Using telephoto lenses to bring out wildflowers!



I learned this very simple technique very early on in my photographic career.

I'm also giving you some background to show you why I was drawn to nature photography.



I used several fixed lenses as a child on disposable cameras. A Kodak 110 camera at age 5. (A friend’s mother gifted me.)

(Disposable camera have their own unique lenses attached, so I got used to using many different kinds as I grew up.)



But later when I was older around age (12-14), I worked a lot of odd summer jobs and saved till I could buy myself a SLR with interchangeable lenses. I noticed the camera struggle to differentiate between the two objects; one in the foreground and one in the background. I thought maybe I should take the photo on the object the camera fixated on fist when I press the shutter halfway. Click. Of course, this was in the days of film so I would have wait until the film was developed.



Magically the film was developed! That Christmas morning feeling came over me; when I went to pay and pick up the film from the local pharmacy. (Film purchased from odd summer job money as a teen)



I saw the two types of photographs that I had created.

One with the object in the front or foreground in focus. The other photograph with the object in the background. My mind started to race and imagine I was at some important event and I could use this machine to create arrestee to capture wonderful moments.



Around this time in my childhood I was influenced by photographers as Art Wolfe - my childhood hero!

(Who I later met in real life and was my teacher/instructor)

Art Wolfe is a very kind and nice man, by the way! And Ansel Adams; who I never got to meet, sadly.

But both impacted me to push myself and find my own voice with my camera.



I have used this technique photographing people as well as nature.



But at the time in late teens early 20's when I started getting paid work as a photographer.

I used nature photography to escape the people photography aspect of the photography business.

I love people and people photography, but you never have to go over a model release or fee schedule with an animal in the wild.



Rarely can an duck or adorable rabbit hire an agent or lawyer to represent them in a contract negotiation.

Although I do accept paw prints as a signature…



But a tripod may give you a benefit in certain situations. (Hand holding: Holding your camera by hand instead of using a tripod)

Sometimes you may need a tripod and sometimes you will learn to feel the shot or a mind body connection to your camera when executing your photograph in split seconds by hand holding.



In this case a busy windswept field of wildflowers. This photo was a hand-held shot; not on a tripod. Almost as if it was a wildflower head shot on a busy street. I wanted to showcase the wildflower as someone who was photographing a person in a crowd of people. I saw the dark purplish hues on the wildflower in the foreground and the white light hues on the wildflower in the background. And I knelt on one knee and got down to wildflower level for this photo.



Below are two wildflowers: The first one in the early spring/mid spring to early summer.

The second one in the late fall early winter stage that had dried out.



So what you can do is get any zoom lens or telephoto lens and find a subject.

I wanted to bring out the best of mother nature and all the wonders she has created here on earth.

I started out working with wildflowers and trying to do a form of glamour photos for mother nature.

So where could I apply this to nature?

But it may take a few days to learn and maybe a few years to master. But you can do it! Trust in yourself!



Our second photo is that of a dried-out wildflower.

With one in the background. Taken in black in white within the camera, using a graduated neutral density filter. Using a tripod with a wireless cable release. I used the wireless cable release so the camera would not shake for this image. I did this photo to show the fragility of the wildflowers in a time in nature when the colors are bleak.



Maybe both would be great images for a book or stationary. When I’m taking photos, I look for photos others and myself can enjoy. I always want to photograph something that can connect to others. Once someone bought a photo of a hawk from me because their late grandfather loved hawks.



So, with wildflowers I felt that people can relate to some shape or color maybe a memory of person, time or place. That’s why I kept this one in black and white. I was trying to create an image that you might see in a dream state. Or imagery of an old romance. And keeping the first photo in color symbolizing a new beginning. A new start to life’s seasons.

Take the Artistry in Photography Class with Sarath!

or the Advanced Nature Techniques Class



If you enjoyed the photos featured in this article!

You can get prints of the images without watermarks and full resolution, please click on them and order them. (You can also get them as greeting cards for friends and family.)



Photos/prints/cards will be shipped to your doorstep! And optional custom framing is available as well!

Other prints are featured on my affordable prints page.



If you liked this article please sign up for my FREE nature newsletter! (If you have not already.)

I also teach private photography classes as well as small groups. You can learn more about photography lessons with me on this link.

Or contact me for any questions you may have.



Thank you & take care,

Sarath Nathan (Read my Mini Bio)



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