Andy Harbin Photography
Capturing the beauty of The Cotswolds and surrounding areas

These are not intended as 'hard-and-fast' rules but as tips, advice or perhaps just a few things you might like to try.

1. Don't feel you cannot take a decent macro picture without a specialised macro lens. Prime lenses can produce perfectly acceptable results, as can the typical 18-55 and 55-200mm zoom lenses. If you want to avoid the expense of a dedictaed macro lens, try macro lens attachments / filters. These are single lens devices which screw onto the front of an existing lens and come in a range of magnifications (x2, x4, x10 etc) and sizes to fit most lenses.

2. Keep the background simple and un-cluttered. A busy background will serve only to distract the viewer and draw their attention away from the subject.

3. Bright, sunny days are best avoided as these conditions will burn out the highlights of an image and also produce harsh shadows. The best weather is bright yet overcast as this will diffuse the light and soften any shadows.

4. Use a shallow depth of field to emphasize just one part of the flower. This will serve to draw the viewer's eye into the image.

5. Be a little abstract. Don't always try to get the entire flower in the viewfinder, zoom in! You'll be amazed at the depth of structure many flowers have.

6. Join your local RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) garden. Where better to find perfect specimens. You'll also find that in most cases a year's membership there will allow you access to many other places free of charge.

7. Experiment, be different and have fun. Not sure of the merit of this sunflower image but it was fun to do!

8. Don't be affraid to call upon a neighbour if you see 'something special' growing in their garden. They'll be only too pleased to tell you all about it.

9. Although flowers by their very nature are colourful, try black and white. It helps emphasise the infinite detail of a flower where the colour could act as a distraction.

10. Get a relationship (professional of course!) with your local florist who could call you if they get something 'special' in. many florists will order in specific flowers if you know what you want.

11. Change your view point. Typically flowers are on the ground and we see them by looking downwards. Get down to their level, or even lower, lay on the ground and try looking up.

12. Always take a tripod with you. Remember, the best weather for macro flower photography isn't the brightest. The longer exposures required at times will make one very handy indeed.

13. On the sensitive subject of wind! If photographing in the wild or in your own garden small wooden sticks can be very helpful to steady a plant. These are usually green, about 14 inches long and can be bought from almost any DIY / Garden centre. Be careful when placing them and never use them in a public / show garden.