If you are new to photography or Floriade, we’ve compiled a beginner’s photography guide to the Festival to help you capture it in all its splendor!

Floriade is the epitome of spring in Canberra.  Over 450,000 visitors are expected to walk through the gates this year and wander through the grounds marveling at the flowers and the shapes and designs that have been created. 

The design combinations we’ve put into the park this year have popped more so than in previous years. The palate of plants remains the same, but I am always challenged to come up with more interesting combinations’

Head gardener Tim Howard 

To remember this year’s Floriade, we have come up with our photography guide.

Photography from an observer’s eye view

This point of view refers to you, what you see as you stand.  Most people will hold their camera or phone directly in front of them and take a picture.  Next time, try these tips:

Framing

Use the sculptures around the grounds to frame and to show Floriade as much more than flowers.  You can also use the flowers themselves to highlight certain aspects of Floriade, like the pathways and Ferris Wheel.  What you want to do is to have a ‘looking through’ element to your picture, capturing something in the foreground and background.

People and performers

As you walk through the grounds you will certainly notice the crowds and the performers.  Show them in the act, taking pictures of the flowers, and interacting with each other.

Photography from a bird’s eye view

Height: this is what you want.  Whether it’s placing your camera or phone over flowers and taking a picture looking down, this point of view is meant to give you a sensation of being over things.

#FromwhereIstand

If you are on Instagram, you may have seen this hashtag.  It refers to looking down and taking a photograph that includes your feet.  You can extend this by lengthening your arm away from your body and pointing your camera or phone down and taking a picture.  The result should be a bird’s eye view (granted one that is flying quite low).

Ferris Wheel & Canberra Helicopter rides

Take a ride on the Ferris Wheel to see the patterns closest to that area.  This year, you should be able to make out the Yin and Yang flower bed directly in front of the Ferris Wheel, as well as some of the nearby ones.  Canberra Helicopters are providing flights over Floriade for the first time this year to give you a proper bird’s eye view.

Photography from a worm’s eye view

Now this is my personal favourite angle.  It does require you getting low (or at least your camera or phone) to the ground and taking a picture looking up or through the flowers.  This point of view reminds me of being a child and feeling that everything was so large, yet so wonderful.

Looking up to the sky

Get your camera as close to the ground as possible and focus on a flower that is nearby that it can fill most of the frame.  Including some blue skies, makes this aspect  particularly striking.

Blurry background to keep the focus clear

Once again, you want one of the flowers in focus and the rest of the image blurry.  You can achieve this by increasing the f stop on your camera (making the f number really small). If using your phone’s camera touch the screen to focus on the closest flower and get in really close.  Everything else should become a little blurrier.

Contrast

This works with any angle and is one of those photography tips that apply to almost anything. Find what you want to photograph and move your camera until the background is of a different colour.  With flowers, try to place the green leaves behind the heads so that they can pop in contrast.

Things to note

• The Ferris Wheel operates every day
• To book a Canberra Helicopter ride, contact info@canberraheli.com.au or call them on 0428093505
• If looking for activities for the family at Floriade, read our article Floriade – a month long festival of activities for the family

Things you should know about visiting Floriade

• Floriade is open every day between the 17th September until the 16th October 2016.
• Operating hours are 9.00 am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00 am – 5.30pm on weekends and Public Holidays

Floriade on social media

• Instragram: @floriade_australia
• Facebook: Floriade
• Twitter: @floriadeaust
• Hashtags: #Floriade #LifeInBloom #VisitCanberra and add #SoFrankSocial so we can see your pictures.