RHS Wisley

A selection of work taken recently for the RHS at Wisley.

Main house and laboratories, next to canal

Main house and laboratories

Herbaceous borders, Battlestone Hill

Herbaceous borders, Battlestone Hill

Canal with laboratories in background

Canal with laboratories in background

Glasshouse Borders

Glasshouse Borders

Glasshouse Borders

Glasshouse Borders

Glasshouse Borders

Glasshouse Borders

Business is blooming

From a shoot on business women in You Magazine on 16th August 2015. On a large feature, several thousand shots often need editing down to half a dozen or so. This means overlooking many equally good images. So, a small selection of out-takes.  The first, a quick shot as I was packing my kit away.

Ellie and Anna at  The Flower Appreciation Society

Ellie and Anna at The Flower Appreciation Society

 

Two more from the same series:

Georgie Newberry from Common Farm Flowers

Georgie Newberry from Common Farm Flowers

Nik Southern at Grace & Thorn

Nik Southern at Grace & Thorn

Seed collecting, RHS Wisley

A day at the RHS Gardens, Wisley, collecting seeds with staff and volunteers.

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

Seed collection, RHS Wisley

WC Garden @Vanguard Court

A revisit to the WC Garden @Vanguard Court Chelsea Fringe project  in 2014 for its relaunch as Anna Rose Hughes’ studio.

WC Garden @Vanguard Court, Chelsea Fringe project from 2013. Revisit in 2014 for the relaunch as Anna Rose Hughes' studio.

WC Garden @Vanguard Court

WC Garden @Vanguard Court, Chelsea Fringe project from 2013. Revisit in 2014 for the relaunch as Anna Rose Hughes' studio.

Anna Rose Hughes

WC Garden @Vanguard Court, Chelsea Fringe project from 2013. Revisit in 2014 for the relaunch as Anna Rose Hughes' studio.

WC Garden @Vanguard Court

WC Garden @Vanguard Court, Chelsea Fringe project from 2013. Revisit in 2014 for the relaunch as Anna Rose Hughes' studio.

WC Garden @Vanguard Court

WC Garden @Vanguard Court, Chelsea Fringe project from 2013. Revisit in 2014 for the relaunch as Anna Rose Hughes' studio.

WC Garden @Vanguard Court

WC Garden @Vanguard Court, Chelsea Fringe project from 2013. Revisit in 2014 for the relaunch as Anna Rose Hughes' studio.

WC Garden @Vanguard Court

Foamlea Gardens, Mortehoe in Devon

A shoot for SAGA Magazine, Foamlea Gardens, Mortehoe in Devon. A brief visit.

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon,

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon,

Crocosmia leaves in Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon

Crocosmia leaves in Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon, Aeonium "Shwartzkopf'

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon, Aeonium “Shwartzkopf’

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon, Geum 'Mrs Bradshaw'

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon, Geum ‘Mrs Bradshaw’

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon, Osteospermum 'Cannington Ray'

Foamlea Gardens, Mortenhoe, Devon, Osteospermum ‘Cannington Ray’

Pinhole Impressions

Pinhole Impressions 3 - Lime tree or Tilia Tomentosa

Pinhole Impressions 3 – Lime tree or Tilia Tomentosa

 

I have been asked to write about my favourite photograph in conjunction with a talk in early September. This must be one of the most difficult editing processes for a photographer. The decision will change on a daily basis, depending on current projects, work and new ideas that have found space in a notebook. I think the closest I can ever get is one of my favourites. So a few thoughts.

Pinhole Impressions 3 was taken in the winter of 2007. It was part of a series included in the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition in 2008, which was awarded second place in the portfolio category. As this was the inaugural IGPOTY competition, I still have fond memories of taking the photographs and the process leading to the awards.

I always get asked two questions when this image is on display. The first is, “how long did it take in Photoshop to blur the clouds?”. The second is, “how long did it take to sweep the leaves into a perfect circle?”. The answer to both questions is no time at all. With any location photography there is always a certain element of luck. And with experience, you create your own luck. You can’t always predict what will happen, but you know something special will. So you wait.

Gale force winds hit RHS Wisley on this particular day. I was experimenting with Zero 2000 pinhole camera and was about to give up, as the wind was buffeting the camera and tripod. With exposure times of 10 to 15 seconds, this was a problem. But the movement of the clouds grabbed my attention, and I knew there was a chance of capturing something interesting.

When I set the camera up, the tree was covered in leaves, but with the severity of the wind, it was stripped in 20 minutes. Instant ‘Land Art’ in the style of Andy Goldsworthy, but completely natural. As I was shooting film, I had no idea how good (or bad) the image might be, but I had a gut feeling something had happened. In the space of around 90 minutes, I took 5 rolls of film at other locations around Wisley, and this formed a large part the ‘Pinhole Impressions’ series. It’s rare that you have this kind of luck.

IGPOTY at The Photography Show, 2014

I received a copy of the International Garden Photographer of the Year ‘Collection Seven’ book yesterday. With the judges final choices for 2014, it is a beautiful presentation of work, especially for those whose images are represented.

IGPOTY 2014, Collection Seven

IGPOTY 2014, Collection Seven

 

A list of all the judges.

List of Judges, IGPOTY 2014

List of Judges, IGPOTY 2014

I really enjoyed meeting so many people over the two days I spent at The Photography Show as part of the IGPOTY programme of events. I lost count how many portfolio critiques I gave, but I saw many lovely images.

For anyone thinking of entering next year, I’ll repeat the main point of the talks I gave.

Tell a story. You have to do this without using words. Whether a single image or a portfolio, the idea is paramount.  And don’t be too concerned with special techniques. These can distract and actually hide what you are trying to say. Keep it simple. Look for less obvious subjects too. People and environmental topics are all relevant.

 

Some of my favourite images from IGPOTY 2014

The winning entry for 2014 by Rosanna Castrini, entitled ‘My Prairie Garden’.

©Rosanna Castrini My Prairie Garden

©Rosanna Castrini My Prairie Garden

 

A group winner Jason Liske with ‘Native Coast’.

©Jason Liske 'Native Coast'

©Jason Liske ‘Native Coast’

 

One of my favourite portfolios was by Sibylle Pietrek in the Greening the City category.

©Sibylle Pietrek   'Growing Home' community garden

©Sibylle Pietrek ‘Growing Home’ community garden

 

Another good story was from Matteo Carassale.

©Matteo Carassale - 'Mr. DB against the Sky'

©Matteo Carassale – ‘Mr. DB against the Sky’

Another vacant plot

I pass this derelict flower bed everytime I head back into London on the M4. Situated near the West Lodge Gate at the south west corner of Gunnersbury Park, it must also seen by the thousands of motorists who every day negotiate the Chiswick Roundabout. Completely negleted, there is very little left of the original planting. Normally passing it at a brisk pace in a car, I didn’t realize how big it was until I walked around it last Sunday. So, a project for guerrilla gardeners?

Derelict flower bed, West Lodge Gate, Gunnersbury Park next to elevated section of M4

Derelict flower bed, West Lodge Gate, Gunnersbury Park next to elevated section of M4

Derelict flower bed, near West Lodge Gate, Gunnersbury Park

Derelict flower bed, near West Lodge Gate, Gunnersbury Park - remnants of original planting

Derelict flower bed, West Lodge Gate, Gunnersbury Park next to elevated section of M4

Derelict flower bed, West Lodge Gate, Gunnersbury Park next to elevated section of M4

Derelict flower bed, West Lodge Gate, Gunnersbury Park next to elevated section of M4

Derelict flower bed, West Lodge Gate, Gunnersbury Park next to elevated section of M4

Derelict flower bed, West Lodge Gate, Gunnersbury Park next to elevated section of M4

Derelict flower bed, West Lodge Gate, Gunnersbury Park next to elevated section of M4