The Garden Photography Workshop: Expert Tips and Techniques for Capturing the Essence of Your Garden

by Andrea Jones

Learn to take better garden photos!
 
One of the most rewarding aspects of gardening is sharing its beauty, both physically with those who visit and virtually with those who only see it on a screen. But capturing a garden’s true essence is difficult, and often the moments worth sharing are ephemeral. In The Garden Photography Workshop, internationally known garden photographer Andrea Jones shares the trade secrets that make her photos sing. You’ll learn the basic photography skills and tips on using a range of camera equipment. Profiles of real gardens from around the world exemplify the most common problems a photographer can face, like harsh light, wet weather, and cramped spaces, along with advice and techniques for addressing specific concerns. We live in a photo-driven world, and this helpful guide is a complete tutorial for anyone who wants that world to be filled with beautiful images of gardens and plants.
 

Genres: Photography, Gardening, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

Published March 8, 2017

About the author

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Reviews

[Leyla Johnson]

What a wonderful informative book this is. This book is not just for gardens, but the information can be used for all type of photography. I found it explained quite a lot about use of digital/SLR cameras, including setting. The book explained how lighting, weather conditions, composition and colour effect the final print.
This book would suit a starting point for some one just starting out in photography or someone with some experience but wanting to add to it. I really found this book very clear and well illustrated.

[False]

Read this knowing I am not reviewing the book, but rather leaving notes and asides to remind me of my readings year to year. Much of my prolific reading has been lost in terms of childhood on, but perhaps today’s children can use the tools now available and be more vigorous in their record keeping.

I had high hopes when I checked this book out of the library. I landscape, I garden, I love photography and wanted to learn to use a new camera. I thought, at worst, it would be information I already possessed, so there wasn't much to be gained, for me. This is not to say it couldn't be the perfect book for someone else.

I struggled to read about the lives of privileged clients, and when you read about gardens, the clients are usually privileged in that they have money and can spend it on ponds and groves of trees and regrading soil and statuary and all of the lovely things that make a grand garden grand. I didn't find much for the poor sod with a quarter-acre and big dreams. what you might call someone seeking "more bang for your buck."

Thank God, the author could be commissioned to save the day each time with her clients. The tone reminded me of Gwyneth Paltrow signing an 8x10 photograph of herself to the Peters Sisters, well known in New York then with the comment "You changed my life!" And that, folks was for intimate waxing of lady parts. Translate that into, you really spruced up the castle. This book is way out-of-date which makes it patronizing. It's certainly not a workshop. It was very scant on technical detail and plenty of waffling. I was disappointed.

[Sharon]

This is a good photography book for those who want to do more than point and shoot. Techniques include adjusting the aperture and to control the depth of focus, avoid shooting in bright light to get more detail in the shadows, taking multiple shots when some of the picture is bright light and some in shade and layer them so the picture looks like what your eye sees. This is not just a book about gardens, although the photos shown as examples are taken in some amazing garden. The techniques apply to many photo scenarios, so everyone wanting to learn more about photography will enjoy this book. .

[Leah Markum]

I'm keen on the subject and appreciate some ways to improve photos by using some studio techniques (i.e. using more equipment besides the camera and maybe tripod). But I found myself largely unimpressed with the book's photos and the basic composition tips. I think the book is more fitting for beginners. But on the plus side, being familiar with the content and seeing professional photos that are comparable to mine, maybe I'm judging my own garden photos too harshly. I still want figure out what's "missing" to make them resonate, but apparently I'm at a competent stage of my growth. Sometimes it's good to know that.

[Lanette]

There's a lot of information in this book... definitely one I will have to go back to again and again. However, there's almost too much... definitely more for those with a lot of camera gear and not necessarily for the average joe who just want to learn how to take decent pictures with a phone and/or point and shoot.

[Elle C]

Beautiful photos, of course, in this book on garden photography. From PPL. I got it for my sketchbook, to use for references to draw. The book was pretty heavy to hold up in one hand to use the sighting method to lay out the composition of the sketch, however.

[Z.R. Southcombe]

Some good ideas and really helpful examples with explanations.

[Tina Panik]

There are stronger technique books available on the market.