Source:www.jimippolito.com

If you like taking pictures of flowers outdoors you've probably already realized that they're not very cooperative subjects.

The number one problem with flower close-ups is that they tend to act like a pack of unruly little kids when even the gentlest of breezes kicks up.

Obviously you don't want to take pictures of flowers outdoors on windy days, and, also, obviously you will want to use as fast a shutter speed as possible to "freeze" the action.

This of course limits your depth of field but then, for the most part, you'll be taking pictures of individual flowers so it isn't much of an issue whereas sharpness, which can be controlled by shutter speed, is a factor.

One thing you'll notice is that yellow and white flowers present their own special problems with overexposure. So play around with different settings until you find the combination that works best under whatever lighting conditions you are working with.

Once again, the economy of digital photography, which allows you to take all the shots you want, and print only the best, enables you to hone your skills with draining your wallet.

Here's some excellent tips from Kodak on photographing flowers.

I took today's picture last summer in Long Beach, California with my Kodak P880.

This is the time of year for outdoor photography so grab your camera and take your best shot.