Photographing Flowers Book Review by ChristineMM

Title: Photographing Flowers


Author: Harold Davis


Publicaton: Focal Press October 2011

My Star Rating: 5 stars out of 5:  I Love It

Summary Statement: Gorgeous Photographs with Both Creative Artistic Process and Technical Process Explained

I really enjoyed the format of this book, I found the method of showing a fantastic photograph with the explanation of how it was made engaging and interesting reading. I noticed the difference between other books that attempt to isolate one technique then show examples and liked Davis’s presentation much better; the other way sometimes comes off dry and uninspiring. Perhaps there is no other way for his process because often one photograph will use two or more different techniques, so splitting them off one by one would have been impossible. What I liked so much was reading about his thought process, what drew him to that flower, what different techniques he tried to capture the image then how it worked out in the end. I loved the process-oriented approach that this book has.

If you read this cover to cover as I did in the end what you will have learned is about:

Taking photos outdoors in the field and indoors in a studio as well as about how Davis uses Photoshop in post processing to create the images

 Taking photographs with a very controlled setting and improvising outdoors in sub-optimal conditions (too bright sun, breeze, etc.)

How you can use cut plants, garden grown plants, wild plants, and store bought flowers

Using natural light, artificial light, and a combination of both

Shooting against black velvet and white backgrounds as well as using a lightbox and even scanning cloth and using Photoshop to create textured colored backgrounds (i.e. papyrus and linen)

Regarding equipment he discusses using regular lenses, macro lenses, extension tubes, close up filters, and the Lensbaby.

I want to emphasize that unlike some other books I’ve read I didn’t finish this book thinking that my capabilities were lacking due to not owning certain photography equipment. Davis left me with the impression that the photographer must have a creative vision and it is important to observe, see, and to be inspired by flowers. You can’t get that from just buying a macro lens or a Lensbaby or any piece of equipment. I know already that I’ve taken some very good macro photos using just my 18-55 mm lens on the macro setting. Even with limited equipment by using some of these techniques or buying some black velvet from the fabric store anyone would have enough to stretch one’s creativity.

Much of what Davis knows he has learned through trial and error. By the time I finished the book I was reminded yet again of the importance of the power of observation, of training our eye to really see what is in front of us. Davis encourages us to see the flower in ways that perhaps we have ever taken the time to. It is clear that the author enjoys photography and that what he’s learned has come from many hours of working with the flowers and trying different techniques then doing digital editing with Photoshop.

As I finished the book I felt inspired to try some of the new-to-me techniques. I really enjoyed the focus of the book being on process and discussing inspiration and hearing the author’s creative vision.

(I see that Davis has written other photography books now I am interested in reading more of his books.)

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from Amazon.com’s Vine program. I was not paid to write the review nor was I under obligation to write a favorable review. I was not paid or mandated to post this review on my blog. For my blog’s full disclosure statement see the link near the top of my blog’s sidebar.