How to Take Tropical Landscaping Pictures

Hibiscus

Taking tropical landscaping pictures is a most rewarding hobby or professional endeavor. There is no other collection of flora that is as diverse, colorful, and structurally exciting as tropical plants. In addition, many times these are some of the prettiest photos because flowers are usually so big that they make perfect subjects for exciting close ups. As with all kinds of photography, there are some tips to keep in mind and you are sure to be rewarded with some amazing tropical landscaping pictures of your own.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Overcast sky
• Tropical landscape
• Camera
• Slow speed film
• Tripod
• Diffuser
• Green sticks and plant ties

Tropical Landscaping Pictures

1. Choose a day when the weather is not sunny and the sky is not a radiant blue. Instead, opt for an overcast sky or at least one where the occasional cloud will temporarily hide the sun. The problem of course is the direct sunlight which can wreak havoc with your tropical landscaping pictures and even though to your naked eye the plants’ colors are brought out favorably by the blazing sun, the exposed film in your camera begs to differ.

2. Find a tropical landscape that meets your needs. The more diversified the better. Get permission to move in the flowerbeds to take close ups of some of the more spectacular blooms. Additionally, ask about the watering schedule. You do not want to trudge in mud or get your equipment wet if the sprinklers suddenly come on.

3. Place slow speed film into your camera and keep the sun in your back when you move around and take pictures of a large area.

4. Check the look of a particular plant through the viewfinder of your camera from all angles before deciding on which side to place the tripod.

5. Install the tripod and affix your camera to it when you are ready for the close-ups of the blooms. Even though tropical plants are thought to be simple objects for photography, an absolutely steady hand is required to achieve photos that have stunning clarity and detail.

6. Place a diffuser into the flowerbed if you will be taking close up shots of any particular blooms. Even if the sky is overcast, failure to use a diffuser may result in shadow play on the resulting picture. While the crisp edges may be pleasing to the biologist, the flower connoisseur is more interested in the overall appearance of the blooms as opposed the shadows the various petals may have cast.

7. Create interesting shots by including other portions of the landscape, and having your favorite blooms in their full glory but slightly off center.

8. Place a green stick behind one of the plants and tie it with a floral tie if the wind is acting up while you are trying to take a close up. This is labor intensive and if you have to choose between losing the light and having a flower that stands stock still for one shot, plan on taking only that one shot and making it count.

Tips & Warnings

• Take close up photos after the plants have just begun to bloom. If you wait too long, the insects will have gotten hold of the petals and some plants may already be on the decline.

• Never use black and white film when taking tropical landscaping pictures. Granted, there are some stunning black and white photos on the market that were taken of flora, but usually these are not tropical plants! Black and white photos of tropical landscaping are lacking in depth and atmosphere.

• Avoid the novice mistake of placing the focus of attention smack into the center of the shot.

Resources

• Photos displayed on the HGTV