Over the past 7 years of blogging here at Gardening Gone Wild as the resident garden photographer I have been giving lots of photography tips. Those who watched closely knew I was planning to put the best articles together as a book, and I am truly grateful for the encouragement. Indeed, without your encouragement I would not have believed I had anything to say.
I have created three e-books so far from the years of columns here, and the first ebook, Good Garden Photography was released last December – just in time to submit to the Garden Writers Association for the annual awards. I submitted, wanting the judge’s feedback – as a self publisher I was in uncharted territory. When I received the Silver Award as the best E-book of the year I knew I had done something right.
Then I went to the GWA banquet in Pasadena to receive the award, and was astounded to find out it also was judged the Best Overall Book and received the 2015 Gold Award – the best garden book published in 2014 ! I am very proud.
Thank you readers. You can go back and read the first draft of each chapter here: 1. Composition 101 – Fill The Frame; 2. Composition and Balance; 3. Finding the Light; 4. Garden Appreciation; 5.Provocation and Intrigue and 6. Telling Stories.
Or you can purchase the final book on my PhotoBotanic website with a discount coupon “gold30” during October and November. You can use the coupon at checkout for any of the three ebooks not just the gold winner.
The title of the book originally was “Good” Garden Photography to imply there is more to a “good” photo than just technically quality or aesthetics. It must tell a story.
It is the fundamental tip when you are out with your camera: think about what you want to say. Don’t just grab the first snapshot that you see. Think about what excited you to take the photo and use various composition techniques to fill your frame with your story. Use the four edges of your camera viewfinder (or cell phone screen) as a canvas and listen to your own thoughts on gardening as you compose your image.
Look at the scene – and fill it with what you really see.
You will be well on your way to making your own “good” garden photo.
Thanks again readers, and stay tuned as I write more books through the blog platform at PhotoBotanic.
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