It seems that our Midwest seasons our fleeting. Bright red tulip flowers lift our spirits in the spring but are gone by summer. Gorgeous lilac flowers are prevalent in May by July the lilac shrubs drift into the background. The breathtaking orange tones on sugar maple leaves embody the spirit of fall and quietly drop with winter.
One way to extend the beauty is to capture the seasons through the lens of a camera. Karen Fleck, owner of Karen Fleck Photography located in Huntley, has graciously agreed to give the amateur photographer in all of us some helpful tips and heartfelt advice regarding viewing the beauty of plants through photography.
Q. Karen, how did you originally become interested in photography?
A. I received a film camera in eight grade and was hooked from the start. I loved capturing every day events and special moments. I always put my prints in photo albums and enjoyed looking through them to re-live the memories.
Q. When did you open your photography studio?
A. I opened Karen Fleck Photography in August of 2004.
Q. What type of equipment would you recommend to someone who wanted to begin photographing flowers in the landscape?
A. Any camera will do, however, learning to use the various settings on the camera will help to capture different aspects of the flowers, and will allow for more creativity. A camera with interchangeable lenses will offer more options, and a macro lens will allow for extreme close ups.
Q. What preparation is necessary before beginning to take pictures?
A. Before heading out, make sure camera batteries are charged and that any additional lenses or equipment are at the ready. Flowers should be healthy and at their peak of beauty.
Q. When taking pictures outdoors, is there a particular time of day that you usually get the best results?
A. I always avoid taking photos during the middle of the day, as the sun is usually too bright, causing harsh lighting and heavy shadows. I like to head out EARLY in the morning, or later in the afternoon, when the light is soft and enhances the beauty of the flowers.
Q. What tips might you have for people who want to take pictures of their yard?
A. I would say itâs most important to make sure the yard is clean and uncluttered. Stray yard tools and garden hoses can be quite distracting in a photo. Head outside during the sweet light of morning or evening. Try shooting at different times of day to see the difference. Also, try shooting the yard from different angles and perspectives to find whatâs most interesting.
Q. Is there a particular distance that you recommend between the photographer and the item being photographed?
A. I canât give an exact distance, as cameras and lenses vary, but I prefer plants and flowers to be photographed close up. There are so many beautiful details that can be missed when photographs are taken from too far away.
Q. Are there any tricks that you use when photographing nature?
A. One of my favorite things is to see water droplets on close ups of the plants. For times when Mother Nature doesnât provide, I just sprinkle plants myself before I start shooting.
Smart phones with cameras are often used for taking pictures. Q. Is there any specific advice you would give someone who is going to be taking pictures with their smart phone?
A. The cameras in smart phones have come a long way and work quite well. The most common problem I see is blur, which is caused by low light or camera movement. Itâs important that images are in focus. Make sure to know how close the phone allows for focus and adjust accordingly. Hold very steady when taking the shot. Itâs also helpful to focus on a specific area of the image by touching the screen there to set the focus before taking the shot.
Q. The textures in nature vary widely. How are the different textures in plants best photographed?
A. Textures will be accentuated when light falls across them from the side. This happens naturally when the sun is low in the sky, but can also be accomplished by placing the plant or flower into a location of choice when possible. Never use a flash when photographing flowers and plants, as lighting that comes from the front will âflattenâ the subject.
Q. Can you describe a unique photo that you have taken recently of a flower or tree? How did you capture that particular shot?
A. A favorite I have taken is of a tree. I shot it very early one foggy fall morning. The sun was very low in the sky and directly in front of me. I positioned myself with the tree in between and the light shone through the branches causing streaks of light to radiate out from the tree in the mist surrounding it. It really is quite heavenly.
Karen has given all of us great advice. I hope you are all able capture some great shots with your camera or smart phone this year. The pictures we take this summer can be the ones that mean the most to us this winter.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc., a garden center and landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She will address it in an upcoming column.
