Photographing Spring Wildflowers 

This inspired me to get out on the hiking trail to see if I can some unique/beautiful flowers to photograph.

The 2 ways I use to get really low are either a very lightweight little bean bag (not the big sort of bean bag you'd use with a long lens), or if you have a lens with a tripod collar, using a tripod where you can reverse the column. You don't need a particularly large or sturdy tripod for this, as one of those small carbon travel tripods is fine, because in this position they are sturdy enough. A geared head always makes composition easier, and my Benro geared head is much lighter than my Manfrotto 410. The reversed column tripod with a lens with a tripod collar allows you to get the camera so it's touching the ground i.e. even closer than with a bean bag, but allows more precise composition.

There are those of us who rather take pictures of ground level flowers rather than iconic landscapes....so for us, thank you, Adam!

Amazing, love from Bangladesh

Was happy you identified the bug, I thought I was having a stroke at first. Gorgeous images. Your floraphotography experience pays off.

Very much enjoyed this video! I need to practice more of the macro type photography. Maybe I’ll give it a go in an upcoming video!

Tripods, beanbags, or... IBIS with flip-up touch screen! Great images!!!

Lovely video. Thank you for posting.

Adam, you made my day. Am a flower photographer, and love your work. Some day maybe I'll come across one of your books. You should get an award for giving up so much of your blood to those ravenous little black flies with the big teeth. Love your work. People don't know what you go through to get them.

Very nice to look small for your composition.

I love these photos. Just yesterday morning around this time, I was lying on a stranger's lawn by a busy road capturing scillia photos.

One thing I have that would be easy to include in the kit...a coin bag from a bank, just ask your local branch. It’s a canvas bag with ties. I use cat litter in mine to make a bean bag. It is lite and if it gets wet, just dry it out. Or, you can just fold it up and put the empty bag in your backpack, then fill it with leaves, etc. from wherever you are.

Loving the flower photography sessions. Something we can get right out and try. Stay healthy!

Sometimes when I can't get my camera low enough I carry a small piece of plywood with four holes big enough to push 4 large nails so I can push them in the ground for stability.

Great video Adam!

Great photos. Inspired me to go out even more often. Thanks, keep healthy.

Thank you for taking the time to express good trail etiquette.... based on images from previous visits I can sure see why you would want to go back again and again... the individual flower you shared is still pretty sweet as well as the last one...

It's like there needs to be a tripod head that can mount to a tent stake if you need low-impact stability. Motivating and inspirational. Gorgeous images.

Very inspirational especially during self isolation. I had trouble getting my camera low enough to the ground to shoot wild flowers as well then I discovered if I cut a small section of a pool noodle in half, with the flat side on the ground, I can support my lens with my camera sitting on the ground. Works like a charm and weighs nothing. Cheers.

As usuall high quality videos

Very inspiring...

Hate repeating myself - no one does it better, my friend.👌👌👌 Excellent work. 👏

Really enjoyed this weeks video Adam, nice change with the flowers 😃

You have a great eye for great photos. Always enjoy your work.

Lovely! As I have said before, your raw are really great out of camera and I love that you don't over process your images.

Lovely to see you using one of my favourite lenses, the good old Nikon 70-200mm f/4.

Really doesn't matter what subject you shoot, the results are always fantastic! Even with our "stay at home" policy, you have inspired me to head for the fields in search of the wildflowers. Thanks for another great video.

Nice, love the pictures! I like photographing flowers, it's a fun thing to do!

Win or lose you always seem to get the shots. Always so nice to come along on your walks, thanks Adam.

Thanks for another saturday morning with Adam. A shame the 200 macro is gone. It might be time for a set of extension tubes (business expense). Lighter than a paltypod to carry too!

I'm envious that you can get out (and still be socially distanced) to get some wild flower photography in. I have a small flower garden growing on my balcony, but it's still early for them to be in full bloom. However, they are how I'm getting my nature macro photography fix right now. Pretty flowers - I especially like the last 2 with the yellow flowers in the background.

Beautiful beautiful images

Amazing video and fantastic photos again ✌🏻❤️ It seems that more videos outside are coming finally, the restrictions started to be less than before.

Beautiful images - thx for sharing.

Thank you, Adam. You have inspired me to get out there this weekend to capture the Texas bluebonnets that are blooming now!

Thank you, Adam

Even the flowers are in isolation, it seems. ;-)

Great video, and awesome photos! A great continuation of last week's flower photography video. Really great to see your thoughts on creating a composition using close up of flowers combined with blurry background flowers. Interestingly, I think I rather liked the original photos you took rather than the crops this time. Also, it is so great to see you get photos like this with a 70-200 f4 zoom lens - the focus was great, with the entire flower crisp and clear, but a nice wash of background color in the blurred out flowers behind. Thank you for another week's study!

Thanks Adam. I'm late to the party but really enjoyed this change of pace. The images are beautiful! Here in central Canada we have what we call Trout Lilies which look very similar but are yellow. I really enjoyed this episode. Thanks.

Good morning Adam. Nice application for your 70-200, picked up an older version or this lens in f2.8, I think I'll give it a whirl in the yard between showers today. I like your Flintstone's low profile tripod. Two episodes in a row wearing a ball cap, setting a new trend? Thanks always for sharing and for the resulting inspiration to pry myself off the couch. The work you are doing here is valuable beyond measure as we all struggle to maintain something similar to normal life. Thank you always for sharing but especially now. Take care and cheers from down the road.

Great to see more of the landscape where you live Adam. How comes you're able to take photographs of wild flowers seemingly unhindered by wind, literally the second I aim my lens at any flower or tree the wind gets up, instantly, lol

Flower closeups are my favorite photographic activity. It has never occurred to me to use my 70-200mm lens! Now I'm going to have to try that. I'm always learning from your videos. Wonderful! (I use an old Lester Dine Kiron 105mm lens and Lensbabies a lot.)

superbly done Adam, great vlog xxx

I made a comment about the platypod before I finished watching your video so I am amending slightly my comment. The platypod can live permanently in a backpack especially in the laptop section without occupying any space or being a considerable weight. I think you should give it a chance. 😀

Very nice. You make this look a lot easier than it is

I agree about the platypod - too heavy to carry in the camera bag in the off-chance you'll need it. I've been making flower portraits in the garage with the playpod and it's done a great job there. Maybe they'll make a lighter version.

Great images. For some photographers 4 images a huge number. Having seen last weeks video I went out into our garden and tried to do some focus stacking. Stay Safe

Fantastic images mate really enjoyed the video and those wild flowers are really beautiful. Stay safe mate 😃✌✌

Beautiful images Adam!

Beautiful flowers. That's the problem with flowers, they're so low to the ground. LOL Platypod would be good, they are pretty flat and don't take much room; or maybe just a piece of foam cushion, just enough to prop the lens off the ground. Or bunch up a towel; jacket or a hat, accessory case, whatever is malleable enough to mold to the lens and ground but stiff enough to hold the weight of the camera. The bug was interesting. I once had a big mosquito land on my wide angle lens. In the image it looks almost prehistoric. HUGE! Thanks for the video!

Your van is well travelled judging by all the stickers on the back. LOL. Great video Adam. What a beautiful flower. Our trilliums are just about ready to open here in South Central Ontario.

Thank you for this video. It’s pretty relevant for me at this time with all hiking trails closed, but we have a 3 mile nature trail around around our neighborhood with similar style flowers of blue bells, trillium, a variety of lilies, and other pretties I’m not sure the name of. I feel inspired now to take another look at them with my macro!

Beautiful Images

Great job Adam! Tough conditions but awesome images.

Beautiful colours

Lovely images you got on that trip. I've luckily been able to get wild flowers to grow in the garden and as our spring started before yours I've been at them for a couple of weeks. Also we've had some lovely weather.

Loved the "killer bug" ... bet you were surprised when you got home and viewed the video!

Lovely job mate, I think I might give my garden a go after this, you have inspired me👍🏻

Valiant effort! Rock on!

Thanks! I have hundreds of 'record shots' of the flowers we have here. Not happy with any of them, haven't been able to capture the smell and magical colors. This gives me ideas. I may shamefully copy for a bit as I explore. May, hell. I will copy. Hope you are well. Nothing like self isolating trying to compose a shot like this.

Yessss! Delicious. I was waiting for these Mr. Gibbs. Thanks! Good thing us mature gentlemen (and ladies) have these modern cameras with the flip up viewing screens. Remember optical viewfinders? :-)

I am lucky to have a great many wildflowers right outside my door. But I sure would love a flip out lcd screen

Great shots Adam 👍🏽

Very inspiring Adam. Thnx

I have been taking wildflower shots as well recently. I thought they were quite good, then I saw yours. Oh well walk time again. Must try harder.

Very nice video Adam and stunning location! For low subjects, especially for outdoor macrophotography, I use my tripod with the central column underneath the legs. That way I can get a couple of centimeters off the ground and still have three sturdy tripod legs with minimum disturbance to the ground around the subject.

Beautiful shots Adam!

sweet Delica!

I used to carry a length of threaded rod. I could stick it in the ground and screw a tripod head on the other end. It did not take up much space and the weight was basically nothing.... And you could pick up a length at Home Depot for a couple of bucks, then cut 3 or 4 convenient lengths....

Great as always. If you could maybe add the name of the flower(s) in the camera info it would help us with short memory spans identify them later on. This would be greatly appreciated. This

Buen trabajo. Adams.

That giant bug was massive ! I hope they don’t come over to the mainland. Inspiring video as always.

This is a PS: I love your shots. they're gorgeous!

I like the fly on the screen good effect haha. It's hard to get down low when the knees are not working haha

Good to see you taking wild flower photos. Too many landscape photographers bemoan a sky that didn't explode at dawn while surrounded by small, beautiful landscapes at their feet. When you show a flower shot you took, could you include the name of the subject for those of us unfamiliar with the flowers in your area?

Great work as usual. I need to find a quiet place to escape to in the lower mainland with some wild flowers. I have am taken a couple flower images from walking around the neighbourhood. I procrastinate or I am unsure of the processing part and never call the images complete and share. I know some images are great out of camera but a video on good/bad image tips and post-processing would be awesome!

Great job Adam! I have the Platypod but I'd rather have my D850 on the ground. Great images and emotional blur!

A small began bag....... thats it.... fill it up with styrofoam chips.. stability and lightweight

Really enjoyed this Adam

A little unusual with all the action with the killer bug, but it shows even in rather dire circumstances it can pay off. I'd like you to go back just after a rainfall or when it starts - with protective gear - as waterdrops might enhance the feel..

The most annoying thing about these photography Vlogs is the walking too and away from a parked camera, Not just Adam's, they all do it. When i cannot sleep i count photographers walking in the countryside. :-D

Isn't it always the way: the one piece of equipment you need is the bit that got left behind or no longer have, as it wasn't getting used enough - like the 200 mm Micro Nikkor perhaps? Ever considered carrying a little spritzer bottle to spray some water droplets onto your subject for a little more interest?

It is the law of photography--- when you want to specifically photograph something it is usually hard to find.

Saw a shadow, lol, thought, for a moment, "bear!".

😊

Very sad to see the killer bug attack. RIP Adam

How is that geared head working for you? Looks very useful for flower & macro work.

Adam, I think that fly was trying to edit your video with some creative dodging. You should have given the bug a Gavin voice. 😀

Lucky you, being able to drive out and photograph. Here in the UK that's non-essential travel. You can't even walk with your gear to a local spot, as once you start setting up is ceases to be "exercise". Like Tom Heaton has done, the most you can do is take a handheld snapshot (e.g., with your phone's camera. 😢

And, there are those of us who can't kneel or bend, so thank your lucky flexibility.

This man has a frickin off-road minivan with all the bumper stickers. LMAO

When you put the camera so low down, it's best to use a bean bag and not a tripod

New channel mascot: Killer bug

Nicely done - would a beanbag help?

Adam when taking images of flowers where do you usually focus? On the peddles, or the stamens? Thanks

Nice vlog buddy, it is really quite hard sometimes as a landscape photographer to do a different genre and vlog, I have managed to keep my vlogs going with different techniques. great video as usual & cracking images as well.do you have a flip screen that works well for low angles, my eosr works well in this respect. also I use a very small low angle miniature tripod from Manfrotto that works very well with this combo.

Great video. What brand of tripod head do you us?

At 09:38 I carry with me a bean bag for these type of shots.

Which camera was used for the video?

Thanks Adam, enjoyed your video as always! A slightly non-related question, what software do you use to edit your videos? Love the way you show the stills by zooming and panning! Thanks!