June 14, 2011
Alpine Shooting Star in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, and How To Avoid A Busy Background

Here's an image from our recent visit to Yellowstone National Park to show that it's possible to photograph something other than wildlife in the park. I captured the pair of Alpine shooting star on a cloudy, calm morning using my standard wildflower setup: 180 Macro, Angle Finder, cable release, and mirror lockup. The Angle Finder makes it easier to frame the shot when the camera's at ground level, and the cable release and mirror lockup reduce camera shake.

How To Avoid A Busy Background

The background for wildflower images is extremely important to make the subject stand out, and here's a tip to avoid a busy background. After framing the shot, and with the camera locked down on the tripod, adjust the focus to explore what's behind the flower. Odd sticks or blades of grass will jump out, and because they'll be in focus, they'll be easy to identify and remove. While the image is of a wildflower, some "gardening" to remove unwanted elements in the background is frequently required. After the background is ready, refocus on the flower and make the exposure.