Here in Virginia we are enjoying the beautiful wildflowers that have been popping up—fringed polygala, trailing arbutus, trout lilies, violets, bellworts, and trilliums of various kinds. One of my favorite flowers grows in the clearings and along the trails throughout our woods—the dwarf (or vernal) iris. I like their shape and lavender color.
As nature photographers, we find it natural to photograph the little wildflower beauties. Sometimes we just take a quick snapshot. Other days we might feel more creative and lie flat on the ground, doing a better job of composing an eye-level portrait of the flower.
One of the most rewarding mornings I’ve spent photographing wildflowers happened not because I photographed a lot of species, but rather because I took a series of photographs. I focused on one flower bud and got shots in sequence as it opened from the tight bud into a beautiful little iris. Photographing a series like this is not hard to do, yet I have seldom done it.
Taking photos in series tells a story with photos. The sequence might be the life cycle of a butterfly, a pair of birds building a nest and raising a family, or even a scenic photo taken in the four seasons of the year.
If your goal is to submit photos to a magazine, we editors appreciate photos that tell a story. I encourage you to take some time this spring to shoot a series of photos on a topic of interest. If you get a fun series, you are invited to submit your results to Nature Friend, Focus Illustrated, 4253 Woodcock Lane, Dayton, VA, 22021. Include captions or a story that tells about your experience. Mention this May 2025 lesson.
And now for a wildflower photography tip—if your camera has a mirror and a mirror lock-up feature, using it along with a cable release or time exposure will likely produce sharper shots. Mirror lock-up can be used in other situations, too, if the subject of the photo is not moving. Taking these steps, along with using your sturdy tripod, will reduce/keep camera vibrations to a minimum.
The first step is to train the owl to come for mice. We tried and succeeded in fourteen minutes. The next evening, he was back, watching us set up our equipment. Read the story in our book, North American Owls.
Photos © Dogwood Ridge.