Fill the Frame

Closer isn't always better, but it's usually worth checking out. It forces you to look not only at the subject, but also its shape and how it works within the camera frame. In other words, it encourages you to think as a visual designer, not just as a gardener or horticulturist. By moving in close, we get to experience the intimate details of this lotus (Nelumbo 'Mrs. Perry D. Slocum'). And graphically, the image benefits as much from the negative space (the green, leafy areas surrounding the petals) as it does from the flower filling the frame and "bleeding" off all four sides.

Photo ©2008 Lee Anne White. Photographed at Longwood Gardens.

Choose a Dramatic Angle

It's a natural tendency to photograph a garden from eye level. But the most interesting images are often taken from other angles. In the case of these sunflowers, I set the camera up low and shot toward the sky--which, fortunately, was very blue this day. This helped emphasize the height of the plant and convey its habit of reaching skyward.

These are cutleaf coneflowers (Rudbeckia laciniata 'Herbstsonne') photographed at Longwood Gardens. Easy-to-grow perennials, they reach 4 to 7 feet tall and bloom June through August. Give them plenty of sun or they'll need staking.

Photo ©2008 Lee Anne White. All rights reserved.

Move in Close

My favorite shots are often the simplest shots. Those where I can move in very close to my subject and just focus on the details that give it character. That was the case with this hedgehog plant (Agave stricta). Aptly named, I was first drawn to this plant not for the planting combination, flower, or shape of the plant, but for the spike-like foliage that does, truly, remind me of a hedgehog.

Photo ©2008 Lee Anne White. All rights reserved. Photographed at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Don't Overlook the Details

Whether you're setting an outdoor table or photographing it, don't overlook the details. As for setting the table, think layers--placemats, chargers, plates, something on the plates (whether napkins or a bundle of fresh herbs) glasses and something to give the setting some height.

And when it comes to photographing an outdoor dining area, shoot more than the table or outdoor room. Move in close and capture some of the details that give the setting personality.

Photos ©2008 Lee Anne White. Design: Frances Dixon.

Reflections and Recycled Glass

I'm not sure which I like better: recycled glass tiles or their reflection in water. Recycled glass tiles are a durable, beautiful and sustainable building material made from silica sand and up to roughly 85% recycled glass. It is an excellent material for bathrooms, kitchens, pools and spas. Here it is used in a swimming pool by the designers at Da Vida Pools in Austin, TX.

A tip for those interested in photographing reflections: Use a polarizing filter. While we often think of using a polarizer to knock the reflection or glare off of metal, glass or water, it can also be used to enhance reflections and saturate colors. The beauty of a circular polarizing filter is that what you see is what you get. It is a double-glass filter, and you simply turn the outer ring until you get the results you like.

Photo ©2008. Lee Anne White. All rights reserved. Design: Da Vida Pools.