FLOWER PHOTOGRAPHY WALL ART
Although I suffer from severe allergies throughout the month of March, the first flowers of spring bloom at the beginning of the month. Luckily, my allergies only last for the month of March so it’s not bad. When the cherry blossoms at the University of Washington Quad are in full bloom, we know spring has arrived. The spring flowers brighten the landscapes after cold, dark winter days of the Pacific Northwest. Now I can walk around the neighborhood with my camera to get fine art flower photographs.
Flowers have a timeless beauty that never fades and makes for stunning wall art. With the advent of digital photography, capturing the intricate details and vibrant colors of flowers has never been easier. Whether you're looking to add a pop of color to your living room, liven up a dull office space, or create a peaceful retreat in your bedroom, flower photography wall art is the perfect solution.
INCREASED CREATIVITY AND PRODUCTION
Recent studies show that having flowers in the work environment improve overall productivity, problem-solving skills, and creativity. What employer doesn’t want this? Since flowers start blooming in the spring, it’s easy to have bouquets throughout the office most of the year. With these improvements in the workplace, the overall mood improves, leaving workers to feel less anxious, agitated, less depressed, etc. Creating more macro photography of flowers this year, my emotions have improved after the long winter in the Pacific Northwest. Observing all the colors and shapes of flowers has been a fun activity this spring.
HEALING POWER OF FLOWERS
Horticulture therapy is used for patients with mental and physical ailments. Patients often see an improvement in their mood, which helps the body heal. A recent study shows that patients with flowers in their rooms heal from surgery must faster than those with empty rooms. The patients experienced less pain intensity and pain distress with flowers and plants. Another way flowers can help heal the body is by improving sleep. Sleeping is when the body recovers. Whether it’s hard exercise, hard days at work, or anything that breaks down the body, flowers reduce stress and anxiety, allowing the body to drift off into sleep.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PRINT
Vibrant Colors: Look for photos that showcase the full range of colors in the flowers, from deep reds to soft pinks and everything in between.
Intricate Details: Flowers are full of delicate details, such as intricate petals and delicate stems. Look for photos that capture these details and showcase the beauty of the flowers.
Sizes and Framing Options: Flower photography wall art is available in a range of sizes, from small prints to large canvases. Choose the size that best fits your space and consider the framing options, such as a classic black frame or a natural wood frame, to complete the look.
Mood and Atmosphere: Flowers have a unique ability to evoke emotions and set a mood. Consider the atmosphere you're trying to create in your space and choose flower photography that reflects that mood, whether it's a peaceful, calming space or a bold, energetic room.
HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH FLOWERS
While flowers look better in the bright sunshine, this does not produce great images. Look for diffused light so no shadows are cast across the petals. Get closer to the flower. Taking a photo from eye level doesn’t show the details. Put the flower at the minimum focus distance of lens so it’s as large as possible. Flower photography is harder than I thought. The background is just as important as the subject. You don’t want the background to distract from the flower. Using a shallow depth of field like f2.8 or f4 helps blur the background (bokeh) so it’s not part of the subject. Just a nice, soft color. Don’t make everything in focus. Only a small part of the flower needs to be in focus. This could be the edge of a petal or the center of the flower. Try many angles. If you have to photograph one flower for 20 minutes, then that’s what it takes. Spend as much time as needed to get the shots you want. Oh yeah, watch out for the wind. Wait for a calm day.
WILDFLOWER SEASON
As spring passes and many of the flowers are gone, in the Pacific Northwest, August is the time for wildflowers to bloom. With so many locations in the Cascade Mountains, finding wildflowers is easy. But, on the east side of the mountains, wildflowers bloom in June with the warmer and drier climate. But, you must hike to the flowers since they are at the higher elevations. Fields of Lupine, Anenomes, Avalanche Lillies, just to name a few. What a better way to get away from the hustle of the city, breathe some fresh mountain air and let your worries wash away than to hike to mountain wildflowers. When I was photographing the wildflowers of Mount Rainier last August, I forgot my troubles and focused on the flowers, scenery, and the amazing Pacific Northwest.
TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS
It's not often I drive north to the Skagit Valley for the tulip festival in April. This year I have a few new lenses for this so I made the drive a couple times. With so many shapes and colors, I could spend hours in one tulip field. A few tips and tricks for tulips. Don't photograph the entire field. Choose one or two and get real close to those. Fill the frame with the tulip. Get low and have the sky as the background. Avoid windy days. Choose the right lens. A macro or telephoto work the best. Use a wide aperture. If everything is in focus, the subject loses importance. Shooting up close with a macro or telephoto, a soft background or "bokeh" adds drama to the image. If you want to photograph the entire field, have a couple tulips in the foreground as the main subjects so people know they are tulips. If you photograph the tulip field from eye level and far away, it will look like colored lines in a dirt field.
___________________
Fine art flower photographic prints have the same affect as real flowers except for the smell, pollen, allergies, just to name a few. But the prints last for decades if done correctly. Flowers brighten the landscape and the home with their colors and shapes. Always stop to smell the roses or any other flower that is near by. It will brighten your day. Give someone flowers has a gift just to show appreciation. Purchase fine art flower prints like the ones in the galleries to bring joy to family and friends for decades to come.