Virtually every trip I make to a park or outdoor recreation area, I see someone out there taking pictures. Wildflowers are among the most widely photographed subjects the world over. That's good, and bad. Why? Because that makes flower shots a dime a dozen, as the old saying goes. It means that there are literally millions of shots out there. Every photographer has some of them, whether amateur or professional. With millions of wildflower shots being taken every year, how can you get yours noticed? There are several ways that you can make your images "stand out in a crowd" and get attention. Look at all of the pictures taken by the competition. Close-up shots of a single flower are everywhere. Aside from happy-snaps of people, I'd say that flowers are likely the second most popular photo subject. And every photo album out there has a shot or two of a single flower. Taking a picture of a single blossom, then, you have to compose the shot in a way that every element of the composition adds interest. I found this pink blossom (Columbine) in a flower patch at Blacklick Woods Metro Park in Columbus, Ohio. There was a flowerbed filled with these, but, I wanted to pick a blossom with something in the background that would enhance the picture, not be distracting, and make my shot different from all the rest. One of the best ways to make a flower shot interesting is to include buds in the composition (they should not compete with your primary subject). In the shot above, I used buds to add a little interest to the background, but, to make sure that they were not a distraction, I used a lens with a 2.8 aperture to give me the shallow depth of field necessary to make them blurry. Since the flower was hanging vertically, I shot it with the camera turned the same angle. I used to shoot a lot of medium format cameras. When I did, I had to think of every element of a composition and note its position within the "square" image. People often forget that their pictures are going to be rectangular and they need to be consciously aware of where everything is in their frame when getting ready to click the shutter button.

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You should notice a few things. First, the shots are all groups of flowers. Second, they are filling most of the frame planning for a rectagular print. Third, I used depth of field to subdue the backgrounds and make the focal point of the image stand-out above everything else.

You need to use a tripod in just about every shot of flowers you take. Be patient and wait for the wind to stop blowing or use a wind-block of some sort. Just make sure that it does not interfere with much needed light. The faster your lens the better. All of these shots were taken with a Tamron SP AF28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di lens. It is a fantastic lens for this type of shooting. I can get up close and personal with the subject. The lens is lightweight, very clear, and has a 2.8 aperture across the entire zoom range. For shooting wildflowers, I highly recommend it.

I have said this before, shooting groups of flowers will yield a much higher percentage of winning shots than shooting a single blossom. You just want to make sure of a few key points. Don't compose a shot that includes wilted blossoms. Pick a very precise focus point and compose a shot that leads the viewer's eye where you want their attention. Avoid distractions in the background and carefully pick your depth of field to avoid creating a shot that is too busy. You don't want something competing for the viewer's eye.

If the flower is hanging vertically, shoot it that way. If it is a lone blossom, use something in the background to add interest, like the buds I used in the image above, but, make absolutely certain that they are blurry and add a sense of depth to the photograph. This three-dimensional look is very often missing from flower shots. It adds a lot to the image and may just give you a winning picture.

Take several shots when you do click the shutter. You might make changes in exposure in bright light and use a polarizing filter if the blossoms are light in color. If your camera can do auto-bracketing, use that feature to make sure you get several different exposures if that is easier for you. Just make sure you have plenty of memory cards available. Make sure your flash does not pop-up and ruin a shot. Set your camera to "no flash" mode if you have one. Canon cameras do and so do Pentax *ist D series digital SLRs.

Bring your TRIPOD. If you don't have one, buy one. It is one of the best investments you will ever make. Don't cut corners. Buy a sturdy tripod. Prepare to spend about $150 (USD) for a decent tripod that will hold over six pounds of gear. Manfrotto tripods are durable and very stable. The 3000 series are about $100 for the legs and will work with ProMaster tilt-pan heads to save you money. Manfrotto heads cost a little more, but, they are worth it.

Happy shooting!