Garden.True.North
  • Blog
  • Classes
  • Picture Gallery
  • Contact

​Garden Stories

​​Garden.True.North is about gardening in Zone 4,

​sharing thoughts, ideas and tips for all northern gardeners.

3 Uses for Garden Photos

7/16/2018

2 Comments

 
Picture
​Most gardens are coming into their peak season.  Now is an excellent time to get your camera or smart phone and take some pictures.  Why?
I’ve learned there are many uses for garden photographs.  My reasons to take photos started with record keeping.  Then I expanded my photo collection to use in garden programs.  Now I also share on social media and get creative with cards and prints.  Do you have pictures of your garden?  Here are some reasons to consider regularly taking photos.  
  1. Record keeping – I love that the digital record includes the date.  It’s helpful for me to know when certain plants bloom, what makes good combinations, and when pests and diseases appear.  I also try to keep a record of projects and milestones like when a shade tree was cut down converting a shaded garden to full sun.  I wish there was a record of my early gardens but it never occurred to me that I would want a visual record of them.  I take shots in one season to remind me that I want to divide a plant next spring.  Photos are better at recording the plant and location than my poor memory.  If I notice something needs attention but don’t have the time or it’s the wrong season; I take a picture, print it out with a note and store it in the folder for another time. 
  2. Discovery  -- Walking around the garden with camera in hand focuses my attention on individual plants.  The photo gives me a reference to add a proper name, do some research, learn more.  It is easier to identify a plant with a good photo than a description.  When I visit a public garden I take at least 3 pictures of a plant:  the plant ID tag, a close-up, and one a bit further away to put it in context.  By doing this my plant identification knowledge has increased.  If it is in a nice setting I will also take shots from several angles to get an artistic scene to share.
  3. Sharing – To share a great picture on social media, on a card, in a photo book, or print is the fun part of garden pictures.  Adding the botanical name and something about the plant allows me to share what I have learned.  It all starts with a good photo. 

Garden Photo Tips

​Modern digital cameras make taking a good picture easy.   Learning the camera’s features help in getting better photos.  And just like gardening there is always more to learn.  I think photography and gardening are complimentary activities.  Now I both garden to get the photo and photograph to improve my garden.
 
P.S.  It is easier to give away plants or share seeds with a good picture of it in its prime.  
  • Shoot when the plant is in prime condition
  • Check the background in the photo, clear weeds or dead plant material
  • Shade, a cloudy day, early morning, or evening light are better than bright sunlight
  • Most garden photos are taken looking down, try a different angle.  Get higher (with a ladder or second story window), lower (right at ground level), horizontal or vertical, close-up or far away
  • Use a tripod for sharp pictures
  • For a dewy appearance no need to wait for rain, use a spray bottle to add droplets
  • Take background shots of tools, the garden shed, bare beds in the spring and fall to tell the seasonal story
  • Create a digital file system; label by season, garden or something that is meaningful to make finding a photo easier
2 Comments
Carla TePaske link
7/24/2018 05:46:45 pm

Your presentation was great at Meet Me in the Garden. I am passing this post on to my husband, his hobby is photography.
Thank You!

Reply
Custom House Indiana link
1/28/2023 10:06:02 pm

Thanks foor sharing this

Reply



Leave a Reply.


    Classes

    ​
    * Sun Gardens on April 23, 2025 and Shade Gardens on April 29, 2025 at the Hayward Library No registration needed 

    ​Handouts for programs ​are on the ​ "Classes" tab. 
    ***************
    ​Check out my Garden Course catalog if you are interested in  a presentation to your group - Click Here

    Link to North Country Master Gardeners' website

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    December 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    January 2024
    November 2022
    April 2022
    August 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    August 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017

    Categories

    All
    Annuals
    Fall
    Garden Events
    Garden Trends
    Garden Visits
    Low Maintenance
    Miscellaneous
    Monthly Calendar
    Perennial & Biennial
    Spring
    Summer
    Travel
    Trees And Shrubs
    Vegetables
    Winter

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog
  • Classes
  • Picture Gallery
  • Contact