Flora photography tips
Telling a story in pictures
As an Australian wildlife and flora photographer, I know that, perhaps more than any other subject, photographing plants commands a themed approach. The theme may be a simple botanical record, depicting the plant horizontally, vertically, in close-up and in context within its wider habitat. Alternatively, a photographer could tell a complex story, such as a series of pictures representing the ongoing struggle to protect Tasmanian forests (as a conservationist, I love this kinds of stories). There is always a story to be told, although it may not be immediately obvious. Working thematically enables you to better understand the subject matter. Maybe you could create numerous images of bark patterns, dead leaves, or abstracts of gum blossoms, which, when put together in a montage, create an exquisite artwork.
Varying your viewpoint and the focus and composition as you work from plant to plant will develop your skills as a nature photographer. Thematic collections are also more likely to have commercial value, because they provide a greater choice of images suitable for picture stories in books and magazines.
QUICK TIPS
• Whether a compact or SLR camera is used, a zoom lens of around 20 mm to 55 mm with a close focus facility will be a handy tool for storytelling through pictures.
• A built-in and/or attachable flash may be essential in many situations, as either the total source of light (say in a dark forest) or as fill-in flash on a sunny day.
The Florentine protest
Zoom lenses of 14 mm, 24 mm, 35 mm and 80-200 mm were used over a two-week period in and around the Florentine forest region in Tasmania. The images, when supported by captions and text, create a powerful story about anti-logging campaigners condemning the State's forestry department for carving roads into old growth forests for logging. The bottom right image shows the damage to the forest, and the series of images above illustrate how Tasmanians are protesting the activity. Unfortunately, the Florentine protest failed and logging has since taken place. Nonetheless, we should never give up in our attempts to educate the broader community through our images.