Finally – Flashlight Flowers!

I know it’s late but it’s gonna be worth it.

If you look closely at the image below you may see what you think is a dog’s face. No its not Photoshopped at all. That is a real flower and that is really the stigma. It may look like a dog but it’s a flower.

If you want to know how I go that shot, click the link…

Getting images like this is easier than most people think. Although I use professional cameras and lenses, this could easily be done with any point & shoot that has a macro setting and can be mounted on a tripod. Besides a camera and tripod what equipment will you need? How about a good flashlight? Yep, that is how I lit this and all of the images in this post; with a Mag-Light flashlight but I am sure any flashlight that can shine a beam of light will work.

In the two images above I was working with the flowers on a table. The backdrop in this case was a black cloth but you can’t see it so who cares? Any dark corner will do. In both of these I held the flashlight above and behind the flower shining the beam directly the petals, one from the back and the second from the front. Then by zooming in as closely as I could I focused and shot. Pop! Cool flowers!

In the following two images I kept the camera on the tripod focused on the inner flower. By only moving the flashlight I was able to create these two very different images.

First, shining the flashlight on the back of the petals…

Now shining the flashlight from the front of the flower and over the camera lens…

By changing the angles you can make beautiful imagery and get some very unique and creative images. In the last image below I was trying to represent a single white rose in a sea of darkness. To do this I had to be a bit more careful to not let any ambient light effect my image and use only the flashlight to light as much of the flower and stem as possible.

By lighting this image from almost directly above the rose I was able to light the petals and parts of the stem. I also got lucky and got just enough light to capture the leaf coming off the stem. So just like us, when the rose is all alone in a sea of darkness it isn’t really alone. Its friend the leaf is there too.

To see more of my flower images check out the Flower Gallery on www.MagickMichael.com

Until next time…
Happy Shooting!