How to take a good photo for displaying on our Virtual Show.

 

If you are using your mobile phone or a simple automatic compact camera, please follow these guidelines as best you can. Send in your best photo anyway if anything below is difficult. We can adjust brightness and colour and also crop your images if necessary.

 

Floral Exhibits, Growing Bulbs, Pot Plants and Floral Art displays.

• Prepare your exhibit as you would for a normal show, using your own vases where needed.

• Find somewhere where you have a plain, light coloured wall and plain surface or table to set up your exhibit. A fussy or cluttered background will detract from the subject of the photograph.

• Take your picture looking straight on or slightly down. Daffodils are best taken slightly to one side rather than straight down the trumpet.

Vegetables, Soft Fruit, Handicraft, Domestic and Children's Exhibits

• Prepare your exhibit as you would for a normal show.

• Place them on a table with a plain white or light coloured table cloth.

• Take your picture looking down at about 45 degrees.

Taking your photo.

• Take your picture in natural light, but try to avoid direct sunlight. Flash and artificial light can create unwanted sharp shadows and should be avoided.

• Try and fill the frame with your exhibit, but do not get too close as it may not focus properly.

• Hold your camera/phone very steadily and take your picture. Look at the photo you have taken carefully to make sure it is sharp. If it is fuzzy or out of focus keep trying until you are happy.

Photographic exhibits

• Just send the photo that you would have printed.

 

Email your pictures to autumnshow@burgesshillhorticulturalsociety.com 

stating your name and the classes you are entering, only one photo per class please.

 

If you are an experienced photographer using a more sophisticated camera or a mobile phone which you can adjust exposure, aperture and speed:

• Follow the guidelines given above for setting your exhibit.

• If you have a tripod, use it with a remote lead or delayed exposure. Keep the ISO value down to say 200 to give better quality and adjust the aperture to control depth of field.

• Generally, use a light background, but some light-coloured flowers, such as Daffodils/Narcissi, can look very dramatic against a black/dark background. You will need to underexpose your photo by 1 or 2 stops to avoid washing out the colour of your flower. Do not worry if it looks a bit dark, we can sort that in Photoshop.

• Flash bounced off a ceiling can improve poorly lit areas, but natural light is usually better.

 

Email your pictures to autumnshow@burgesshillhorticulturalsociety.com

stating your name and the classes you are entering, only one photo per class please.

 

Tim is happy to answer any questions you may have on 07907 159441