Around the Qingming Festival holiday, cherry blossoms begin to bloom in many places, how to record this beautiful moment when you go out, this time we will introduce you to the key points of spring cherry blossom photography.
1. Exposure of cherry blossoms
Basically, there are many kinds of cherry blossoms, but they generally look pale pink, but they are actually close to white. In a composition where cherry blossoms occupy the entire frame, it is necessary to set the exposure to a positive direction. For mirrorless cameras, adjust the correction when looking at the viewfinder or LCD. If you're using a DSLR, it's a good idea to take a photo, then check the image and judge the exposure.
Taking this photo, a lot of positive compensation was applied since cherry blossoms took up most of the frame.
Shooting equipment: Sony α7 IV + FE100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Shooting environment: Focal length 196mm Aperture priority AE (F16, 2 sec., +1.5EV) ISO400 WB: Sunlight
Second, the picture correction may be unnecessary
However, if the color is predominantly a color other than cherry blossoms, correction can be made with little or no need.
Photograph a scene where various colors such as cherry blossoms are small, blue skies, sprouting trees, and rock surfaces are mixed. In this case, correcting the color is often not necessary, and even if it is necessary, it is better to do less.
Shooting equipment: Sony α7R III + FE16-35mm F2.8 GM Shooting environment: Focal length 20mm Aperture priority AE (F16, 1/15 sec., no correction) ISO100 WB: Sunlight CPL filter
Third, sometimes negative compensation is required
Even if the cherry blossoms are white, if the background is in shadow due to backlighting, a negative correction is required instead of a positive correction. Do you need to make color corrections, do you need to correct them according to the intensity of light and dark, and it's best to feel the exposure of each scene.
The faint semi-backlight illuminates the cherry blossoms, brightening them, while the bamboo grove in the background is darkened by shadows. In a situation where such shadows occupy a large percentage of the frame, the cherry blossoms will be overexposed and exposed unless negative compensation is applied.
Shooting equipment: Sony α7R IV + FE100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Shooting environment: Focal length 400mm Aperture priority AE (F11, 1/60 sec., -1EV) ISO800 WB: Sunlight CPL filter
Fourth, cherry blossom color performance
Although the cherry blossoms are pink, their color is white, and personally, in order to express the delicate true color of the cherry blossoms, try to use the color and direction of the light according to the time of day, which will be mentioned in the example below, to create a "natural and beautiful color." "If you want to bring out the color, you can make the cherry blossoms more pink by adjusting the color to magenta on the white balance setting screen, or by adding magenta through image processing after shooting.
In addition, using the picture modes built into each camera (landscape mode, vivid mode, etc.) will result in vivid photos. However, you should be careful because you will often see photos with colors that are impossible in reality. Depending on your shooting style, do you aim for a "nature photo" or an "eye-catching photo", as this is a matter of personal preference, but I believe that the shortcut to improving your photography is to be able to clearly capture the colors of the landscape as it unfolds in front of you, and to be able to draw what it looks like.
Shooting equipment: Sony α7R III + FE70-200mm F4 G OSS Shooting environment: Focal length 200mm Aperture priority AE (F8, 1/125 sec.) ISO400 CPL filter
When you see the photo effect on a small screen, at first glance, the pink color of the cherry blossoms appears deep and vibrant, but if you look closely, the color of the trees, even the tender green buds, has a faint tinge. With a slight reddish tint, which is unnatural, the example on the left is the most natural, but care must be taken when emphasizing the colors.
5. Pay attention to the change in the color of light over time
A simple explanation of the color of light is given below.
● Before sunrise or after sunset→ blue light
● After sunrise or before sunset→ Orange light
●Sunny day → white light
●Lighting → The color of the light changes according to the color of the light source
By setting the white balance to sunlight or daylight, you can take photos that take advantage of the colors of the light, depending on the time of day. If you set the white balance to automatic at this point, the camera will automatically change color based on the light, so be careful.
Sixth, the choice of light time
If you want an elegant and shiny color expression, use a slightly blue light before or after sunrise, and if you want to express the beautiful and simple cherry blossom color, choose the time of day when the white light color is clear.
Photographed in blue light before sunrise. The blue color matches the pink color of the flowers, creating a deeper cherry blossom color.
Shooting equipment: Sony α7R III + FE70-200mm F4 G OSS Shooting environment: Focal length 200mm Aperture priority AE (F9.5, 1/10 sec., -1EV) ISO 400 Sunlight CPL filter
Photographed under orange lights before sunset, the cherry blossoms are in brilliant colors under the setting sun.
Shooting equipment: Sony α7R III + FE100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Shooting environment: Focal length 400mm Aperture priority AE (F5.6, 1/350 sec., no correction) ISO 400 Sunlight CPL filter
7. Pay attention to the direction of the light
Although this is not limited to cherry blossoms, the direction of the light is important. When you want to bring out natural tones of color, edge lighting is the basic method. If you want to create a more impressive image, choose Backlighting. Frontal lighting can accurately express colors, but the lack of shadows can lead to a lack of three-dimensionality and depth, and the colors of the cherry blossoms tend to appear whiter.
The light on the right brings out the colors of the cherry blossoms. The amount of shadows across the screen is just right, giving it a three-dimensional feel.
Shooting equipment: Sony α7R IV + FE100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Shooting environment: Focal length 156mm Aperture priority AE (F11, 1/125 sec., no correction) ISO400 sunlight CPL filter
A backlight with strong shadows creates an impressive effect. The contrast is more prominent in the morning and evening when the sun is low. Compared to cherry blossoms, there are more shaded parts, so a negative correction is made.
Shooting equipment: Sony α7 IV + FE70-200mm F2.8 GM OSSII + 1.4×Teleconverter Shooting environment: Focal length 214mm Aperture-priority AE (F4, 1/1500 sec., -1.51EV) ISO400 Sunlight CPL filter
8. Consider the weather when taking photos
The best time to see the cherry blossoms is surprisingly short. After flowering, if the temperature remains at a normal level, the trees will be in full bloom after about a week.
If the temperature is high, the flowers will bloom all at once within a few days, and the full bloom period will not last long. If you can only go out and shoot on weekends, if you don't take pictures at that time, you may not be able to take pictures until the following year. When going to take pictures, it would be nice if the weather conditions were suitable to take good photos, but in many cases it just won't. Therefore, it is advisable to choose a shooting method that is suitable for the weather conditions. Alternatively, take care to choose a location that is suitable for the weather conditions in which the photos were taken.
Taken in cloudy conditions. Although it lacks shading and impact, it is able to create a gentle cherry blossom color. Since a whitening cloudy day is not included in the viewing angle, it gives a clearer impression. A composition that contrasts the cherry blossoms in front with the cherry blossoms in the back is used, creating a sense of depth even without shadows.
Shooting equipment: Sony α7R IV + FE100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Shooting environment: Focal length 126mm Aperture-priority AE (F16, 1/10 sec., +0.5EV) ISO400 WB: Sunlight CPL filter
A characteristic of cloudy days is the soft light. If direct light causes large shadows, part of the flower may be blown out, but if it is cloudy, this will not happen, and you will be able to take photos of the flowers with a soft feel. If it's cloudy and you don't feel good enough to capture the whole landscape, we recommend that you switch to close-up photography. I blended the yellow color of the rape flower into the background.
拍摄器材:Sony α7 IV + FE70-200mm F2.8 GM OSSII 拍摄环境:焦距200mm 光圈优先AE(F2.8、1/350秒、+0.5EV) ISO800 WB:阳光CPL滤镜
9. Photograph the petals fluttering in the wind
The unique thing about cherry blossoms is that they can take beautiful photos even after they are in full bloom, so try to record the cherry blossoms fluttering in the wind and the petals floating on the water.
The key is to choose a place with a backlight and a dark background. If the background is bright, the cherry blossoms will not stand out.
Shooting equipment: Sony α7R IV + FE100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS Shooting environment: Focal length 400mm Aperture priority AE (F5.6, 1/500 sec., no correction) ISO400 Sunlight CPL filter
Use a slow shutter speed to record the traces of the petals floating on the water and moving with the wind, and try to change the shutter speed according to the speed at which the petals move, the key is to increase the shutter speed if the trajectory feels too long, and slow down the shutter speed if it feels too short.
拍摄器材:Sony α7 IV + FE24-105mm F4 G OSS 拍摄环境:焦距30mm 光圈优先AE(F16、20秒、+0.5EV) ISO100 阳光CPL滤镜 ND64
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