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Use a telephoto lens While I adore the look a macro
lens provides when photographing flowers, a telephoto
lens such as a 70-200mm f/2.8 gives me the flexibility of a
zoom – you can even attach an extension tube for a cheaper way
to isolate a subject from its background; I often use my 300mm
with an extension tube. Using a telephoto lens means I can get
more depth-of-field than a macro lens at the same aperture and
put more distance between me and the subject, which is ideal if I
want to isolate a single flower in a busy field. It also means, due to
the way a telephoto lens compresses perspective, that by getting
low enough I can blur foreground foliage and the background to
give the image depth. Some photographers get a similar result by
using a 500mm lens. When photographers think of shooting
flowers, they often reach for a macro lens but you can get such a
variety of images of the same subject by switching up your focal
lengths – telephoto lenses and wide-angle lenses have interesting
applications when it comes to floral still-lifes – it’s important to
know the effect you can get with different lenses.82 Digital SLR Photography July 2019
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Morning still-lifes In early spring you can still get a frosted
coating on early flowers such as tulips and crocuses, which
looks lovely under a morning sunrise, but if it’s slightly warmer
you’ll likely get dew drops that sparkle in the morning light. Photograph
them with a wide aperture to transform background dew into beautiful
shapes of bokeh. You have to be selective about what you have in
focus with a wide aperture, and that's rarely what's closest to the
camera, but it means you can get blurred foreground and background
details for extra depth and interest. Aim for diffused lighting to make
managing highlights easier and play with your shooting angle to see
how the light affects the shapes in the background.