One of the enjoyable assignments in your photography lesson plans is photographing star shapes in flowers. From the smallest star to the largest, once you begin looking for them you’ll be surprised how abundant they are.

As with other forms of photography, some basic rules of composition apply here as well. Balance, symmetry, rule of thirds, and controlled depth of field are some of the applications to consider while on this star flower mission.

The ideal time for photographing flowers is early morning. While wind can be a problem at any time of day, it’s most likely to be calm earlier than later. Also, fog and dew are more prevalent in the morning and there are several ways to use this weather element to your advantage. First, it creates dew drops on the flowers, producing small specular highlights on the petals which create depth to your flowers.

Near the top of the list for recommendations is photographing in low light, cloudy, or overcast conditions. Avoid harsh sunlight, as it can sometimes have undesirable effects with color saturation. If sunlight is your only option, try positioning the sun so that it backlights the flowers. Additionally, you might place the sun at right angles to your camera-lens axis. This can create beautiful side lighting, sometimes referred to as edge or rim lighting.

Consider using a tripod, as low light translates into longer exposures, even when shooting at a shallow depth of field. Your tripod also helps give necessary support for sharp focus on your subject matter.

For those with their own gardens, finding flowers to photograph can be a relatively easy chore. If you don’t have a personal garden, consider visiting a botanical garden. They offer an amazing wealth of subject matter, and you can easily add an image or two to your best images collection.

Other areas to consider are friends or family members’ flower beds. These are the obvious choices as they’ll be the most likely to grant you permission to photograph. Another suggestion is public places or storefront properties. However, it’s always a good idea to ask permission first. When asking, let them know you’ll be coming back early in the morning, most likely before the store(s) open, thanking them in advance.

In summary, you’re looking for that absolutely perfect weather condition to help you create the best photographs possible: early morning or overcast light, no wind, fog to help create dew, a private garden without distractions, tripod, and that sleek digital slr camera.