Our Aperture Academy San Francisco Botanical Garden Workshop is really popular. The class draws both men and woman who want to learn more about photography in general, but more so how to capture better macro images. Today Phil and I were graced with the presence of 8 lovely ladies who wanted to to work on those general skills, as well as learn more about macro photography.

After we all got acquainted, and teased Phil for being the only male, we made our way in to the over 50 acres of lush gardens. There are more than just flowers to photograph. Right off the bat I located some large green leaves that contained some gorgeous detail, and fantastic light. Shooting from underneath the broad leaves, you are able to capture the detail in the veins of these leaves, as they radiate out, creating intricate patterns. Close by were some perfect Cala Lily specimens. We worked this area quite a bit and get everyone warmed up and feeling more comfortable with their gear.

As we made our way around the expansive gardens, we would stop and shoot whatever peaked our interest, and trust me there was plenty. Flowers such as, Foxglove, Fuchsia, Dogwood, plus way too many others to list. All along Phil and I would help with the appropriate settings, as well as the foundational aspects of composition and the importance of simplifying for more impact. As they say, “less is more”. We also worked on different points of view, including tilting the camera to create more dynamic leading lines, often referred to as dutch.

Near the end of our journey through the gardens we were lucky enough to have some close encounters with the local hummingbirds. During our entire visit, we could here them chirping and chatting, but now we had a nice close encounter. The male Anna’s hummingbird was perching nicely in the branches. He was the perfect distance for some nice images.

As we made our way back towards the main gate, there was one final cluster of mixed flowers. Some so vibrant, they didn’t even look real. Those may actually need some de-saturation in Photoshop. This was the perfect spot for us to pause for a moment and grab a fun group shot, to cap off a fantastic morning in San Francisco.

Phil and I enjoyed spending our Saturday morning with you, and hope to see you again on a future workshop.

Until next time,

Phil, Ellie and the entire Aperture Academy team!

P.S. If you'd like to join us at one of our workshops, you can find the schedule/sign up here.