Chicago Botanic Garden 2012

It has become a (mostly) yearly tradition for me to go the Chicago Botanic Garden to take pictures of a variety of beautiful flowers that the garden has to offer.  I think I have gone for the past 5 years (although I missed going a year in there somewhere).  Eric typically goes with me, but it is not as exciting for him since he has been there now numerous times, and it is not as fun for him to watch me take pictures the whole time.  This year, I wanted to go again, so I asked my dad to go with my for my birthday.  He also loves photography, just got a new (very nice) digital camera, and had never been to the botanic garden, so he gladly agreed to accompany me.  We went this past Saturday while Eric stayed home and watched the kids.  We had a great time.  The flowers were not as hearty as they normally are, but there were still some good ones, and the weather was great.  My dad cracks me up, because he insisted on bringin TWO cameras.  He still likes to use his 35mm, so he brought that as well as his digital.

When taking pictures of flowers, it is all about contrast, shapes, and colors.  It's not about the subject as much as it is about making the subject look interesting.  I tend to prefer taking close ups of the flowers while my dad tends to take more scenery/landscape photos (at least that was the case this time).  I try to look at a flower from the perspective that complients it the best.  I try to see which angle looks the most interesting, what is behind the flower, what other colors can I get in the photo, etc.  Sometimes a simple straightforward picture captures it the best and sometimes I need to get under or above a flower to make it look the best.  Oh, and I always strive to get at least one "bee" photo when I go.  Don't ask me why...bees are quick and hard to photograph on a flower most times, so I consider it a challege to get a good bee picture...maybe I like it for that reason.