When winter finally starts to break, flowers start to bloom. Taking pictures of flowers is an easy way to practice photography techniques for beginners.  They are great subjects because they are beautiful and have great color. They are also easy to photograph because they don’t move! I don’t think I am at the beginner stage anymore, but I still love taking pictures of flowers. I have a black thumb. I kill every plant I get. I even killed a cactus once! I guess that is why I love to take pictures of flowers so much. At least that way I can enjoy their beauty even after I kill them.

The photography group that I belong to had an assignment of “Spring Flowers.” I have been playing with some macro extension tubes that a friend let me borrow, so I decided to try some macro flower shots. I did some shots hand held, but I highly suggest using a tripod. You can get the flowers focused in much easier with a tripod.

Another great way to get flowers shots, besides buying them and bringing them home, is to visit your local Botanical Garden if you have one in your town. Ours has a hot house and you can get great orchid pictures any time of the year in it.

If you don’t have a Botanical Garden, try your local park. They may have something blooming that you can photograph. If not, take your camera to your local nursery. If there are any Garden or Home Shows in your area, they might have some great flowers too.  I took these at the local Mc Donald’s Garden Center’s Garden Show.

There are such beautiful flowers that bloom in the spring. It is hard to resist taking pictures of them. Sometimes you just can’t resist buying a few to bring home. Just don’t forget your allergy medicine!