My Favorite Tips For Wildflower Photography & Mistakes To Avoid

In this new video, I share how I capture wildflower landscape photography and show some of my favorite techniques for photographing flowers under really any lighting conditions.
Workshops and more!
www.shainblumphoto.com/
Lightroom Masterclass
www.michaelshainblum.com/the-...
Legacy Photo Lab, use code "shainblum" for 10% off developing and scanning.
legacy-photolab.com/
Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself: fm.pxf.io/c/2600634/1347628/1...
GEAR I USE:
If you use these links I get a small kickback from the sales. It really helps the channel and keeps me able to keep producing these videos, thanks so much!
MAIN PHOTO/VIDEO GEAR:
Travel Camera Bag: shimoda-designs.j8ujgp.net/4ePK6o
Main Photography Camera: amzn.to/3j96BH9
Video Camera: amzn.to/3hZE9Z4
My Most Used Wide Lens:amzn.to/3zYPyhw
Night Sky Lens: amzn.to/2LLy2cn
Telephoto Lens: amzn.to/3zUckqU
Audio In Field Mic: amzn.to/3omtsRp
Lav Mic: amzn.to/35kxZei
Tripod: amzn.to/34hB3s5
Drone: amzn.to/3ocYjzy
SMALLER GEAR I USE OFTEN:
Rocket Blower: amzn.to/3ocXczS
Lens Wipes: amzn.to/31LLhzF
Timelapse Remote Sony: amzn.to/3mmHf8L
Timelapse Remote Nikon: amzn.to/3jguNFn
Mini Tripod: amzn.to/35jzsRX
Drone Filters: amzn.to/2IQ1Mnr
#photography #landscapephotography

[@MichaelShainblum]

🚨SCAM ALERT🚨 If you see any reply on a comment from an account called "TEXT ME ON TELEGRAM Michael Shainblum" or something of that nature with my thumbnail. THAT IS A SCAM, it is not me! I will never reach out to you for personal information and if I run a giveaway on this channel it will be officially announced through the channel, not on WhatsApp or Telegram. Please keep your info safe and check the username before responding to any sketchy messages. I have blocked the account from my channel, but if you see any others pop up report it to KZbin immediately.

[@NoxonPhotography]

Would love to see the behind the scenes processing of that first shot. It was incredible! Also love the inclusion of a puppers! Also love the digital contrast and pop more

[@MichaelShainblum]

I really should have timelapsed my screen each time haha. I think overall with errors and troubleshooting it took me about 5-6 hours. Thanks so much!

[@Johnnycbtx]

I didn't realize you were into shooting wildflowers. If you ever want to experience and shoot wildflowers in Texas you are always welcome to come along and chase the flowers through the Texas Hill Country and the not-so-Hill Country. Either way, I think you would be amazed.

[@honorab6220]

Nice images! I preferred the digital. Sadie stole the show. I hope we'll be seeing her again.

[@samwilson4012]

Thank you Michael - so much appreciation for you guys that also create (stunning) videos while out taking photos as well. Not to mention sharing your knowledge and thinking along the way - beautiful work!

[@sahelibasak2889]

Your videos are always so therapeutic ✨ Kudos to all the hardwork you put into creating these vids and photos. You're a true inspiration!

[@larrysalaets7088]

Always enjoy the calmness of your videos! Hearing you describe the scene and then seeing the finished image enhances the experience! I have to say that the quality of your voice overs has to be the best of all of the photographers that I follow on KZbin (and there are a lot of them!).

[@esmailg.m6186]

Thank you so much Michael

[@karenwalter5784]

Sadie is absolutely adorable and looks as though she’s very fond of you! I prefer the digital image of the flowers, I like the detail in the sky more, although they’re both beautiful. I loved the abstract images! The colors and the patterns are stunning and fascinating. As always Michael, I love your work and always look forward to your next video. Thank you!

[@AndyFeliciotti]

Loved it! Thanks Michael!

[@Ezra_PX]

Wow such beautifull images! What an amazing landscape the hills the lakes and the flowers. Awsome video!

[@joannaa680]

Amazing pictures, thank you for sharing!🙏

[@markmozley5604]

I really love your videos and the lessons I have purchased. You are so real with what most of use face in Photography. Thanks

[@Bimmly]

I thought I was the only one who took their Tri Collie out on photo shoots!!! Your friends lad is really handsome, and just a bit naughty too ;-) As for your pictures, fantastic comp's and colours, great inspriration here ...

[@Myles995]

Great video! I love these out in the wild ones ☺️👍

[@debbydhill]

Beautiful!

[@janewillis2421]

Loved the digital photos in portrait, and the abstract looked like Monet, very soft, painterly looking 🌿 Thanks for always explaining everything so well...Hello Shadie ❤️

[@mtns340]

Really like the abstract flower field from a distance shot from the end of your video.

[@peterpacholkow3064]

What a treat that was, thank you Mike.

[@augie5119]

amazing photos especially the abstract ones.

[@ricksmith8444]

Beautiful shots.

[@hoosierdome8698]

Beautiful pictures

[@gammalambdapi]

Awesome video Michael. Production-wise I really found your gentle, warm narrative both informative and enjoyable. As for the photography, the telephoto abstract images really blew me away. So inspiring! Keep up the great work. Love the dog 🙃

[@amitdutta8768]

Beautiful shots and presentation. Thank you ☺️

[@krisweyers6248]

This lake is my back yard(not literal) I spend a lot of time there in spring. I love your photos from there. I prefer the digital photo to the film. Always enjoy you videos!

[@bryanashford5118]

another great video very nice compositions and for me i think its the film shot of the flowers realy cant wait for the next adventure tnx so much for sharing

[@bongjovi4168]

Awesome video. Thanks for sharing 😊

[@annr3822]

Such a Pro Love it!!

[@mitzimckay7934]

I prefer the digital shots, but all of your photos are stunning. I enjoyed them all.

[@tdalton854]

Film or digital version is tough to choose. I’d be delighted to have shot either. But give a nod to film for the redishness on the horizon. Really liked the abstracts especially around 12:00 min mark. Lovely feeling. Thanks

[@patrickshepherd3262]

I prefer the digital version of the lupine & water sunset photo. You have made some very beautiful wildflower photos here. Thanks for sharing them.

[@saeidrostami]

We are waiting😍🙂

[@PhillipMcCallum]

Excellent video and photos

[@lauraleutprechtperes2582]

I loved that video so much 🥰💗

[@nelehoremans2546]

Thanks for the video! Definitely the digital version is more my liking, I like the more natural look of the colours in the digital photos.

[@juanitakelly3082]

"A bit of a construction project" . . . . . To say the least! Good line!! I preferred the digital version of the comparison shots. I like the brighter sunset and richness of it. Also, the angle with the flowers more prominent in front seemed to give more depth. Beautiful.

[@susanreneebright6804]

Digital. Your teaching of lines is beautiful

[@trevornelson4198]

Really preferred the digital shots.

[@elainemiller2828]

Sadie is so cute! Between the digital and film photo, I prefer the digital.

[@JeffandLeslie]

Thank you for sharing this. I do a lot of wildflower photography. It’s not as easy as some may think.

[@TarrelScot]

Agreed!

[@bizeffex]

Awesome sunstar capture !

[@sicmotherfako]

Always look forward to your videos. Stunning work! The first image stitched together sounds like it was a nightmare in post, but it looks like it was well worth the effort!

[@treyfoerster8759]

Digital version of sunset. Thanks for another nice vid!

[@davidposaas7350]

Gosh such beautiful photography! The abstracts of the flowers were stunning. I think I preferred the digital version.

[@seantomlinson3320]

Very pretty Michael, neat. I was out this morning to get wildflowers on our tallgrass prairie too. Didn't get the wide swathes of colors like you did, missed those by a few weeks unfortunately, but I did get some other fun pinks and purples. I love flower photography.

[@nsfotographi]

Great video...love the lupins...we have them everywhere in Nova Scotia Canada

[@nicksaunders106]

Hi Michael, it is the digital shot for me. Great work as always.

[@kellyr2681]

They are all great shots Michael.....but l like the digital image more.

[@pragawa]

Thanks, Micheal! Beautiful. Namaste from India.

[@user-if9gq9et6z]

Great shots, I prefer the digi image personally

[@vladphotos]

Fantastic set of images Michael. Not a big fan of film but thats the beauty of photography - beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[@shannonsnow8298]

Gorgeous photos! Digital definitely!!

[@MichaelShainblum]

Thanks Shannon!

[@_GhostGarden_]

Love the color of the sky with the Cinestill, that's super beautiful man!

[@MichaelShainblum]

Thanks Aaron! Glad you dig it, it was super fun to play around with the Cinestill

[@jessicaa8336]

I like the digital version better! Beautiful!

[@chrisgin_nz]

Shady is awesome!

[@uhaggar]

Great video Michael, not what I was expecting, great to see the compositions that you chose which were superb. I was really surprised how good the film camera photos were, but I still prefer the A1 photos, I guess thats my perfect photo perspective and not an art perspective.

[@maureenmiller2746]

The windy lupines in front of a gorgeous sunset would have been a great scene to produce ICM photos. The photos you took were beautiful as always. They film images only served to remind me why I never want to go to film, however.

[@valdiskrebs566]

Nice images... especially the abstracts! Like the digital version, which you can always dial back to look more film-like... but you can not do the reverse!

[@kaydenharmon3181]

I like the digital👍

[@akashkaothalkar3475]

Really liked the abstract shots. Would love to know more about how you decided on the composition for them.

[@chrispoulsen_]

Oh yeah - Alarm set 👍

[@joejaspervideo]

RE: Lupine along the shore: digital flows throughou the dynamic range better. Agree with the portrait orientation as well.

[@nicerides9224]

The photo with the sun star was worth the effort. Fantastic shot. As for film vs digital the digital shots were nicer. We've got to the stage where film just can't keep up with the digital versions on a decent camera. It was good technology in it's day but modern digital cameras just do a better job with less effort. When I was in high school photography class many years ago we all learnt on b/w film and developed it all ourselves in the darkroom. It was cool to go through the whole process from start to finish and see the final print. Having said that I love the quality and convenience of digital. It allows so much more experimentation and just makes it easier to progress.

[@dhaval0007]

Amazing video ! Thanks for sharing !! Only YOU can create masterpieces with telephoto and seeing patterns which is too hard to grasp. Most of the images on wildflowers are with wide angle on internet. It was interesting to see how you captured the contrast and patterns in that telephoto shot.

[@skolforce]

Very nice pictures

[@MichaelShainblum]

Thank you so much 😀

[@PapaVic9758]

Since you asked: I did like the increased dynamic range of the digital image when compared to film. I also would have liked to hear about taking the opportunity for closeup wildflower shots in overcast/rainy conditions.

[@MichaelShainblum]

Yeah sorry, it was pouring rain when taking those and filming a vlog during the shooting was not feasible at that time.

[@johndonegan8110]

Prefer the digital. Still don't get film😌 Love the abstracts and joyful color. You do those so well. Thanks

[@shaunduke7064]

Great as usual, would have been a good watch before I went out the other night shooting a Poppy field .

[@amateurphotographerassocia5965]

Very nice, will share ;)

[@SuranjayaPriyanath]

I subscribed because of the Dog. 😁😊❤

[@JosephTMyers]

I liked the film version more mainly because the sky's red/orange tones come out stronger in the upper regions. I wonder if those tones could be retrieved digitally if one shot a bunch of frames at different exposures, ISO etc.

[@Levashanks]

Great stuff Michael I live in Idaho and it is poppin right now. Side note I was envisioning you were going to walk right up to the camera pooch in your arms and say eat your heart out Gavin - lol

[@annamoon023]

There’s a lot going on in this video - I had to watch it twice to catch it all! 👍🏻 For your question about the digital vs film image…. While the beautiful color gradient in the digital image is eye catching, I like the film version better. I don’t think that more color or tones (even for b&w photography) equals a better picture. There’s the composition, shapes in the image, etc to consider. There’s already a fair amount to literally and figuratively focus on in your composition (you yourself used the word “cluttered” to describe part of the scene) so I think the subtler tones in the film version suit it better. Also, in the film version, the sky almost mirrors the flowers color wise which is a pretty effect. Awesome video! 🙌🏻. Love the doggo!

[@MichaelShainblum]

Thanks Anna! :)

[@gotophotoarchive9131]

I like both digital and analog versions... can't really decide 😶‍🌫️😄.

[@achyutacharya1624]

Always love your content #shainblummichael..❣️✌️📸

[@garrydelday5816]

Great shots Michael, have been doing a lot of wild flower shots myself in the last few weeks, Bluebells in my local woods and just today Lavender fields and have been really happy with the results. I preferred the digital image to be honest (didn’t really like the redness of the horizon on the film image) the abstract images were beautiful 👌

[@MichaelShainblum]

Thanks so much Garry :)

[@melissahall7009]

Thanks for these videos! Love them!! 💞You remind me of watching Bob Ross.I like both of those pics, but if I were to hang one on my wall I’d probably choose the film from what I can see on my phone.

[@MichaelShainblum]

Thanks so much Melissa!

[@brianlee8445]

Wonderful video! Though both 35mm and digital capture both had things going for it, I prefer the digital rendition. The colors atemore vibrant and the dynamic range from dark to light gave the image more interest and it looked like you had just so much more information to work with. The 35mm film seemed lighter with less range. Now Portra film really brings back memories when I use to shoot film. Ecktar 25 was my favorite. Thanks for all of the fantastic videos!

[@MichaelShainblum]

Hey thanks so much Brian. Yeah using Cinestill800 during these conditions was definitely a bit of an experiment more then anything else. I think moving forward for flower stuff I will using Portra or even ProMax

[@metalmick99]

As always, wonderful images, and great creativity. The abstract mages towards the end were great! I immediately thought "Monet". (He's the only French Impressionist I really know of.) In response to your question regarding film vs digital I'd lean towards the digital partly because the sky was more interesting, and I disliked that red halo (is that the right word?) that the film produced. The dog Sadie almost stole the show. They are such remarkable, wonderful creatures.

[@josephrosario]

I like the gradient of the digital image more.

[@timefilming]

nice dog, you had a great time! 😉

[@SteveMillerhuntingforfood]

I love shooting film, but not 800T, not a fan of the halation. Maybe try Kodak Vision 3 and self process the film yourself. Just have to deal with the RemJet. Though there are labs that will process Vision film. Therefore, I'm partial to the digital version of all those shots. Yep, Portra, Ektar, and even Color 200 or Vision3 would have made awesome images that day. I loved the abstract images! Very appealing.

[@arnoldflores2393]

hard to pick between the digital and the film, but i love the comparison in the same scene

[@Suhailkhan53]

Digital version undoubtedly ❤

[@aommaomm3310]

For the first image, on the post process which do you do first(panorama,focus stacking or HDR)

[@grantnewton5705]

I preferred the digital image as I enjoyed the tonal range and transition in the sky

[@TarrelScot]

Re. The film vs digital shots; I agree it would be good to see those shots on something like Portra. I’ve shot Cinestill 800T in urban night situations but never landscapes. Frankly I think the halation “gets in the way” on this occasion, but it’s always worth experimenting I guess. Interesting that the colour seems quite natural even though the film is balanced for tungsten light. Did you deal with that in the scan? Have you considered using a tilt-shift? Maybe something like a Canon 17 or 24mm? I use one with my GFX, where depth of field is always a battle with wide angle landscapes when you want those close-to-the-camera foreground elements. 1 degree of downward tilt, focus on infinity and you’re good to go, even at f/8. Saves a lot of focus stacking. Definitely an inspiring video. We have some lovely wild flower meadows along the coast here in Scotland (Machair) and I’ll be getting out there after seeing this. Best regards, Mark @scotlandseaandsky.

[@adamthomasphotography]

We need more Shady content!!!

[@FruityHachi]

would love to see some photos of your friend's dog

[@vantagepointphotography]

Michael, looking at the first image (absolutely awesome by the way) I was wondering if a CPL filter would assist with colour saturation on the flowers field. I am returning from two failed attempts to photograph a lupines field (during my vacation last week). I tried to found the answer myself but when I reached out to my magnetic CPL filter I realized I had left it at the previous shooting field and it is now lost. (that along with my N64 filter) A new one is on its way arriving tomorrow so I'll head out again if the weather allows it to try it. Wondering if you tried a filter on that shoot. By the way, the images you got on this video are absolutely phenomenal man, great job. As for film or digital?, those are two different flavours, I go for a completely different goal when using film. I rarely compare them, both are equally fantastic as well as different.

[@kronkite1530]

Ordinarily I seem drawn more to film images but this time I’m not sure. I do quite like the obviously artificial halation of Cinestill (if a bit OTT - Portra or Velvia would have been interesting) but like the sky in the digital photo more.

[@mariozanolli8196]

Thanks for these videos! Love them! I see that you use A1 for landscape, why do you prefer this, than A7rIV ?

[@warricksmith5178]

Thanks for another great vid, Michael. When using wildflowers as a foreground element in landscapes in windy conditions, I've had good results combining a focus stack with a shutter-speed stack. For example, in very strong winds on cliffs overlooking the Irish coast, I blended a 1/250 exposure for the frame focussed on the wildflowers to freeze their motion, with a 60 second exposure for the frame focused on the background seascape to deliberately blur water motion. I blend the frames manually in PS, and so far have not encountered any special challenges.

[@MichaelShainblum]

Hey thanks Warrick. I should have been a bit more clear in the video. The main challenge I have with the wind and focus stacking is more about the wind knocking the flowers into different positions during the focus stack. Thus making it almost impossible for the AI software to detect the focal points corrects. So I find myself having to manually clip and move flowers to remove the ghosting effect. But you are right doing long exposures and blending them with short exposures of flowers is an awesome technique. I love doing that on the coast!

[@rickhauser9698]

Thanks Michael. Prefer film version

[@brucegaucher2350]

My favorite is the digital, but film is interesting. Did you focus stack and exposure stack for the vertical at water?

[@almostgreen9498]

Why do you need theA1? What makes it best for this purpose? And why did you initially use 1/30 on a windy day? Nice video!

[@sophietucker1255]

Love all the images but I did find the halation in the last one to be off putting somehow. As for the wind one of my favorite images of tulips is one in Mount Vernon Wa. It was very windy so I took a chance with a very low ISO, a 2 stop ND, f11 and the slowest shutter speed. The image was a wide angle of the field and the blur of the color was for me very magical

[@MichaelShainblum]

I agree, the halation on that sunset shot was really intense, probably a little much hahaha

[@bobby350z]

Nice shots. Is it Folsom? You should try a TSE lens some time.

[@glennkaufman7228]

always enjoy your content, Michael. Non-photo question: What kind of dog is your friend's? Really sweet dog!

[@MichaelShainblum]

Border Collie, she is one of my favorite dogs on planet earth, I have known her since she was a puppy :)

[@JohnDrummondPhoto]

I love the digital image of the flowers at sunset (7:30). Its dynamic range is far superior and the halation of the film image along the horizon is very distracting to me.