Flower Power – High Key and Low Key Flower Images

By Lane Erickson

“If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” – Buddha

Let’s get one thing clear right at the beginning.  I am not a flower photographer. I love the colors and textures and varieties of the flowers I see around me but, . . . I really don’t know anything about flowers. 

What I do know is that flowers make a fantastic subject for photography.  This is especially true on cold winter or early spring days when there are no flowers outside. 

I have a tradition that when my wife or one of my daughters celebrates a birthday, anniversary or other important event, I get them flowers. When I’ve done this, every once in a while, the flowers in the vase catch my eye and I’m drawn to photograph them.

This has happened to me several times.  

One time it happened on a spring weekend when tons of light was streaming through the windows surrounding our kitchen table. Everything was surrounded and caressed in the most beautiful, soft light. I put the Fuji XF35mmF1.4 R on my Fuji X-Pro1 and shot at the wide aperture of f/2.0.  Here are a few images I was able to create.  

Then at a later time, a single shaft of light came through a window blind and lit up a single flower.  I used the dark wall behind the flower as a background and created these images. 

Upon opening the blinds slightly the background became lighter and I created this image.  

Again, I am fully disclosing that I am NOT a flower photographer. 

I don’t know the names of flowers. I don’t know how to grow flowers. I don’t know what flowers go well together, and I don’t know anything about taking care of flowers. BUT .  . . I do know about light. And I know that when you find the right light, flowers are amazing to photograph.  

Always open to comments, I welcome your thoughts, suggestions and even your critiques. Have a great weekend and best wishes in finding the right light for your own photographs especially if you are creating images of flowers.