Botanical gardens are amazing classrooms; kids can learn to appreciate the natural world, adults can learn to look up from our smartphones and appreciate the present, and gardeners can learn that it’s easy to have a beautiful garden when you have an army of staff and volunteers!

Beyond the lesson that we should give ourselves a break and not compare our own gardens with those that have full-time caretakers, we can pick up a few other ideas that are easier to implement than finding money in the budget for a full-time gardener.

I spent Monday morning at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens with my friend and photographer, Diana Foster, getting a private tutoring session on taking amazing garden photos.  While I always learn something when I visit a botanical garden, this time was extra fun; I not only learned how to up my photography game, but I started thinking about designing my own garden to maximize its “photogenic-ness.”

Lesson 1: It’s All About the Lighting
The right natural light can mean the difference between tulips looking dull (though still pretty–c’mon, they’re tulips!) and looking magical.  In this picture, the filtered light from tall shade trees above gives the appearance that some of the tulips are almost glowing and brings out details you would normally miss.  Just look at the shadows where the tulip petals overlap!  Filtered light is better than full sun, so an overcast day is wonderful for taking pictures outdoors where you don’t have dappled shade.

Lesson 2: Get Down (and up…change your perspective!)
As adults we generally see the world from (about) the same level — and rarely do we change that perspective.  But who says that’s the best view of the world?  Try meeting plants at their level for some cool shots (bonus: squats mean you get your workout in for the day), looking up from below, and looking down from up high.  Sometimes just the slightest change in angle can make a big impact!

Lesson 3: Be Aware of the Background
To be honest, this is never something I had really given any thought to when taking garden photos, but it makes a huge difference!  Not only does that awareness give you the opportunity to set up a shot in a way that makes the picture more attractive (think green leaves in the background vs. brown mulch) it can also be an important part of the photo’s composition.  Would this peony picture be anywhere near as stunning if it didn’t have the beautiful purple flowers behind?

Lesson 4: Keep it Simple
Our eyes and brain need something to focus on; if you’re not careful, a beautiful garden can look busy and overwhelming in photos.  Sometimes “keeping it simple” means a close-up of a single flower; other times it means being purposeful about the composition of the shot.  In this picture, there are certainly a number of plants that look lush and beautiful, but your eye is drawn down the path to the concrete bench.

Lesson 5: Get Up Close and Personal
Closer…closer…closer…that’s it!  How many of us actually take the time to get close and look at the details in the natural world around us?  Not many, for sure.  That’s why super-close photos can be so impactful — they show off the amazing intricacies that were always there, but most of us don’t get close enough to see.

Lesson 6: Design Your Own Garden Using The Lessons Above
…and use it to practice taking pictures!  The OPA is a perfect place to learn garden photography because they have been so thoughtful when designing and planting each area.  If I step back and think of not just what would look good in person, but what would also look good in pictures, I know I need to be intentional about creating vignettes, planting good “backdrops,” varying textures and shapes, and planting both focal point and “filler” plants.

Lesson 7: Sarah Needs a Better Camera
I have a pretty good camera, but in looking at the difference between the pictures I took and those that Diana took with her camera, there’s no comparison.  Tough decision…do I spend money on more plants or save up for a better camera?  There has to be another option…c’mon bonus time!

Even if you’re not taking pictures to share on your blog, keep these tips in mind when you’re out and about and see a beautiful flower or plant that you’d like to capture with your phone’s camera.  They all still apply, even if you don’t have a 51-point AutoFocus system!   This week is the Johnson County Master Gardener tour, so I can’t wait to use some of the tips I learned and share some incredible photos with you all in future posts.  Have a great week and make sure you spend some time out in the garden!

———————————

I couldn’t let Mother’s Day go by without a shoutout to my amazing mom — my partner in (gardening) crime.  She is my garden tour sidekick, my weeding companion, and my brainstorm buddy.  Some of my earliest memories are of spending time in the garden with her, so I’m pretty sure she gets all credit for my interest in plants and gardening.  I love you Mom!