Clive Nichols

Flower and Plant Photography

  • Recommended

    $200

    Includes personal feedback and tuition. More

  • $75

    Learn in an online classroom with no more than 20 classmates. More

Course Description

Join our Flower and Plant Photography course taught by Clive Nichols, one of the world’s finest garden photographers.

Over four lessons, Clive teaches you the practical and artistic aspects of plant and flower photography, drawn from his 25 years’ experience.

You'll learn alongside Clive with practical assignments where you'll photograph flowers, based on each lesson including how to use a macro lens on your camera, how to play with shutter speed, and how to capture photographs of flower petals, and plants.

Choose Expert option for personal feedback from Clive on your assignments.

This course is suitable for all levels of photographer from beginners to professional photographers looking to learn how to take the best photos of flowers and plants (indoors and outside in your garden) from an expert.

Clive uses over 150 beautiful and striking examples of his plant and flower photographs to illustrate approaches and techniques you can use in your own work.

You'll learn:

  • how to use light in flower photography
  • composing images using diverse shapes and colours in plants and flowers
  • techniques to for brilliant plant and flower photographs in indoor and outdoor settings
  • creative techniques for photographing flowers and plants
  • reducing background distractions
  • using macro photography techniques for focus in your flower photos

You'll need:

  • Camera which allows user to control shutter speed, aperture and ideally has an exposure compensation button
  • Macro and Zoom Lens (If you don't have a Macro lens then here's some alternative options: Alternatives to the macro lens)
  • Tripod
  • Lens Hood for avoiding flare when shooting into the sun
  • A white and a gold reflector
  • Sheets of different coloured card
  • A piece of black velvet for backgrounds

The course includes:

  • 4 on-demand video lessons - presented by Clive Nichols
  • lifetime access to the video, notes and interactive class
  • flexible classes - join and learn when and where you like
  • downloadable lesson notes
  • practical (optional) photography assignments
  • access on your mobile, PC, Mac or laptop
  • small interactive online classroom chat online to students from around the world

Time to complete this photography course:

Every student is different but in general we think the whole course will take around 12 hours 20 minutes to complete including:

  • Video lesson: 1 hour 20 minutes in total
  • Course notes: 30 minutes per lesson
  • Assignment: at least 2 hours per lesson
  • Interactive classroom time: 15 minutes per lesson
  • Tutor feedback review (Expert level): 15 minutes per assignment

Ready to get started?

Just add the course to your basket above - choose the 'Expert' option for personal feedback from Clive on your photos.

Any questions? Contact us by clicking on the orange speech symbol - we'd love to hear from you.

CPD Accreditation

Course activity has been accredited by the CPD Standards Office (CPDSO). The course equates to 12 hours, 20 minutes of CPD learning.
The CPD Standards Office. CPD Provider: 50276.

Course outline

  • Lighting for Flower and Plant Photography.

    Lighting is vitally important to all photography and in this lesson Clive explains how to use natural light to get the best out of your subjects.

    He starts by looking at the advantages of soft, diffused light, then moves on to bright sunlight, back lighting and side lighting.

    He also gives essential advice on controlling exposure for getting the best possible results in your work.

  • Composition for Flower and Plant Photography

    Flowers and plants offer a fascinating range of shapes and colours to photograph and in this lesson Clive talks about how to use them to make stunning images.

    He looks at single and repeated shapes, pattern and line, the use of positive and negative space and creating abstract images.

  • Working Indoors & Outdoors

    In this lesson, Clive explores the pleasures of working indoors, including the use of different coloured backgrounds.

    He explains how to create simple but effective still life images and how props such as vases and bottles can be used to enhance them.

    He goes on to look at working outdoors and the advantages of shooting at different times of the day and in a range of weather conditions.

  • Developing Vision & Technique

    Now that lighting, composition and different working conditions have been explored, Clive now examines different creative techniques to use in your flower and plant work.

    He discusses the importance of viewpoint, ways of using plant combinations and the striking effect of using complementary colours.

    He also looks at controlling depth of field, creatively using subject and camera movement and concludes with some useful post-processing techniques.

Choose how you want to learn

  • The Expert option

    Recommended

    Develop your learning further with marked assignments and personal tuition from Clive Nichols

    • Start course whenever you like
    • 4 weeks tutor access for personalised assignment feedback & coaching
    • 4 assignments marked by Clive Nichols
    • Certificate of completion and CPD hours
    • Online classroom with up to 20 classmates
    • 4 lessons with expert videos & notes
    • Group chat & direct message with tutor & classmates
    • Lifetime access to videos, notes & classroom
    Learn more
    $200
  • The Peer option

    Discover the benefits of group learning in an online interactive classroom of no more than 20 people. Get the most from shared knowledge and community study

    • Start course whenever you like
    • Practise what you learn with your peers
    • Online classroom with up to 20 classmates
    • 4 lessons with expert videos & notes
    • 4 course assignments
    • Group chat & direct message classmates
    • Lifetime access to videos, notes & classroom
    Learn more
    $75

New
Buy this course for a business or group

You can now buy this course through your business or organisation for individuals and groups up to 20

Photography classroom - how it works

  • Start anytime

    Watch video tutorials led by expert tutors

    Watch video tutorials led by expert tutors
  • Test yourself

    Practice what you learn with inspiring assignments

    Practice what you learn with inspiring assignments
  • Personal tuition

    Get assignment feedback from expert tutors

    Get assignment feedback from expert tutors
  • Share ideas

    Collaborate and chat directly to classmates

    Collaborate and chat directly to classmates

Meet Clive Nichols

Clive Nichols - Gardening

Britain’s best garden photographer

Photo Plus — The Canon Magazine
Clive Nichols has established a reputation as one of the world's finest flower and garden photographers. His passion for the subject comes across in every image that he makes. Clive has photographed many of the world's best gardens, including HRH The Prince of Wales's own private garden in Scotland, Lord Rothschild's private garden in Corfu and Lord Heseltine's private garden in Oxfordshire. In addition his work has appeared in hundreds of books as well as in countless magazines, calendars and brochures. Over the past 25 years he has amassed a stunning collection of over 60,000 images which are available for reproduction. Clive regularly gives master classes in flower and garden photography for The Royal Horticultural Society and for the past 5 years he has been one of the two main judges for the prestigious 'International Garden Photographer of the Year' awards.

Clive also photographs interiors, travel, architecture and lifestyle, undertaking many prestigious commissions including a calendar of the world's best modern buildings for a Russian Senator, a book about the finest Villa on Lake Como for Conde Nast and a new brochure on the historic BMA House in Tavistock Square, London, for the British Medical Association.

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Awards & Accreditations

  • CPD Accredited (provider 50276)
  • Good Web Guide
  • Red Herring Winner
  • Education Investor Awards 2021 - Finalist
  • Royal Horticultural Society
  • Digital Education Awards 2023 Winner for Digital Health and Wellbeing Learning Product of the Year
  • Digital Education Awards 2023 Winner for Adult Home Learning Product of the Year