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Backyard Photo Ideas

Photography may be accomplished anywhere. One of the biggest challenges in taking pictures is finding inspiration in new and original subjects to photograph. While many people take out their camera only while on vacation away from home, there are hundreds of subjects that can be found right in your own backyard.

Macro Photography
- Make friends with the very small.
  
  Macro photography involves taking pictures of very small things, like bugs, flowers and textures. Most cameras are equipped with a macro mode that allows the lens to focus on subjects very close to it. Turn the flash off because at that distance the picture would be completely washed out. Practice holding the camera as close to the subject as possible.
  
  Some photographers take extreme close-ups by shooting backwards through another lens--that is, mounting a second lens on the front of the camera. With this setup, you will be able to see details of the texture in the wings of a fly or the edge of a coin.
Star Photography
- Circles in the sky
  
  If you point a camera at a star long enough, the motion of the earth will make the star appear to move, creating a circular streak of light in your photo. The rings will rotate around Polaris, the North Star. Use these circles as a frame around a subject, like a windmill, tree or steeple. Experiment with light to find out how long the lens must remain open for a perfect exposure of the subject, as well as the rings in the background.
Floral Photography
- Blooming perfection
  
  Flower photography is a challenge. Find the perfect flower and keep it from moving. To highlight the colors and details of a flower, you'll need a fairly long exposure--which will be ruined by the slightest breeze. A wind break, like a large piece of cardboard, will come in handy. Also, colored poster board sheets can serve as backdrops and will make your perfect bloom stand out.
Portraits
- Family photography is fun.
  
  The most common subject to be found in your own backyard, however, is the family member. Granted, some of them may not want to have their pictures taken and others (especially the ones with four legs and fur) will refuse to stand still long enough to capture more than a blur. Those are the challenges that make photography worth the effort. Stay a distance away from the subject to avoid self-consciousness, but close enough to pick up details. Though it may seem strange, turn the flash on. The sun overhead can cast dark shadows on your subjects, and the flash will soften those out.

Photography