Acer at Batsford Arboretum

Mill Dene Gardens

Just over a week ago, I visited Batsford Arboretum, near Moreton in Marsh and the garden at Mill Dene. I had a  great drive through the Cotswolds on fantastic Autumn day, to see trees at  their best. What a difference a week makes. On a shoot at Capel Manor a few days later, I had to create a large plastic tent to shelter from the wind and rain whilst  photographing garden products. Then today, I photographed journalist Sally Nex at her allotment. Despite the best efforts of the various weather sites, we couldn’t find a time slot to keep us dry. Even my camera had a fit of the vapours. I guess winter has arrived.

Danny Coope, picture editor at Which? Gardening (left) and me during a shoot at Capel Manor.

Sally Nex at her allotment

Actually this was Sally’s last day at this particular plot. Not only did she put up with standing around in the rain for a portrait – she took down a greenhouse in under two hours (smashing just two panes of glass), loaded a van with  tons of gardening paraphernalia accumulated over six years  and even solved a dispute over jelly babies and Jaffa cakes. Now here’s a woman who can multitask!

Despite frequent inclement weather, winter can actually be a great time to take photographs. The sudden weather changes offer many opportunities and trees and plants take on a new form. Unfortunately, commercial photography becomes difficult to plan. But this is far outweighed by the unexpected. I think the unexpected in this case was the fact that Sally kept smiling!