Photographing your garden

Michele K. Koskinen

Landscape of Public gardens.      
This photo pulls you into the garden scene and has depth.

I was recently at a public garden and was taking photos when a women ask why I took photos of trees and landscape in the winter. I was not sure how to answer her so my reply was " I always take photos regardless of the season. It gives me information about the garden I am visiting, When in bloom it is a teaching tool for me to learn more about cultivars I am not familiar with and may want to try, In the fall it shows the colors you may get from trees and plants and the winter it is all about shape and texture. As an added benefit, I can frame my favorites and use them as rotating galleries, gifts to friends and family or use them to practice my newfound hobby watercolor.



So why take photos of your garden, public gardens, or flowers in general.

1. It allows you to see design patterns you favor for you landscape.
2. As you garden matures it helps you make decisions about changes.
3. It allows you to examine what attracts you to a plant, tree or shrub and why you buy the plant.
4. It gives you a perspective of how your garden works through the seasons.
5. It gives a visual history of what was successful and what was not.
6. It teaches you to observe more closely a flowers distinct characteristics.
7. You can learn what the names of plants are that you would like to try.
8. It is an archive of the things that work inside and out in your growing environment.

Tip: Photographs in the summer garden change with light as the day goes from the soft morning to the harsh daylight of summer and then the colors of the sunsets. In the winter it is different as the colors are mostly browns, faded green and therefore texture becomes your focal point. Spring is coming and gardeners are preparing for the new seasons of flowers, vegetables, containers or a combination. Take photos, keep a journal, or as I do, keep a book on your computer of ideas in the garden. Not only is it a learning tool, it gets you ready to go out and garden.


A few of my favorite and mistake photos. Inside and out, gardens or walks take that camera with you and Go out and shoot.

What is in bloom at the time of year.

June-- Iris in full bloom.

July----- Iris are finished, Lilies are beginning, Coreopsis and Heuchera in bloom.

I found this at a garden and wanted to look it up later.

Take the plant marker to remember.

A nice shot. The light through the wings and the muted background.
Patience this day about 10 minutes and I don't know how many tries.

overexposed/ poor background
framing is awful

Overexposed but a nice framing.
The chair in the background another point of interest
to draw the eye in. Tilting the camera makes
it a little different.

Corrected by iphoto enhance.
What is this plant?
Previous blog

 

A macro shot with a dark background made by shutter and apeture manipulation

Photo color enhanced and cropped

Don't forget to take photo's of your favorite bulbs in bloom during the winter months....Paperwhites, Amaryllis, African Violets.......

Closeup of the parts are often intriguing photos.

There are many tips and tricks for the beginner to the advanced. Books, classes, youtube, and the worldwide web.....Two links below to get you started exploring how to photograph flowers and gardens. Like gardening, photography is a learning experience. With digital, you can shoot and shoot and learn through doing. Enjoy........

Fine Gardening tips
5 quick tips