Ten Tips for Wildflower Photography in the Merced River Canyon

Here are ten suggestions to help you get the most out of your spring wildflower photographing adventure in Yosemite.

1. Dress in layers, including waterproof pants and jacket. Morning photography is often damp and chilly. Shed layers later in the day as temperatures climb. Some folks also favor knee pads or gardening pads to take the edge off crawling around on the hard ground.
2. Bring an umbrella. Great for sudden cloud bursts, also terrific for blocking wind or making shade for your compositions.
3. Don't forget the diffusers and reflectors! Manufacturers such as Photoflex sell collapsible reflectors in a variety of colors (gold, silver, white) that can be used to reflect light into shadows and diffuse harsh midday light.
4. Fill the frame with color and use your lens aperture creatively. Try to isolate your subject by using selective focus and a wide aperture to blur everything except what you want the viewer to look at. To get everything in focus near to far, do the reverse: small aperture, hyperfocus your lens (some cameras do this for you), and consider using a tripod.
5. Turn off your autofocus. Auto focus can impede your creativity when working close to your subject. Turn it off, focus manually, and if your camera has a depth of field preview, use it to see what your camera sees.
6. Start early in the day. Morning light is often soft and indirect. Blossoms are often covered with frost and dew. Some flowers are also closed at the beginning of the day, providing a completely different appearance than later in the day. Air movement also increases as the day progresses, which can make getting sharp photos challenging.
7. Go with the flow. Windy? Defocus or consider moving the camera during an exposure, either by panning or zooming your lens. The results can be quite pleasing, often resembling impressionistic paintings or pastels.
8. Think like a portrait photographer. Consider subjects that are back lit and side lit. Use a black cloth behind your subject to heighten contrast and isolate the blossoms.
9. Think in layers. Sometimes the subjects in the most compelling images are simply a screen through which we view other objects.
10. Have fun…and don't leave any footprints! Tread lightly and let others who follow you enjoy the beauty as well.