Want to show off your garden and wow friends and family with your photos?
When searching for snapshots in the garden, or trying to choose photo-worthy plants at the nursery, look for features like repeated patterns, unique leaf shapes, or intricate details to create memorable pics. Also, pay attention to plants that attract pollinators, birds, or other creatures to capture dynamic action shots.
Consider playing with light and shadow by shooting at different times of day. Hot tip: cloudy days or early mornings and evenings usually provide the best light for garden photos.
Here are a few of the top native plants we’ve captured on screen – and a few tips for deciding what to plant or photograph in your garden to create captivating images:
Repetition
Multiple flowers, stems, or blades of seasonal grasses can create repeating patterns. Inspect your plants at eye level to look for opportunities. This photo of an obedient plant captures several multiples: flowers, stems and bees.
Groupings of flowers or clump-forming native grasses like little bluestem, big bluestem or Indian grass can yield a similar effect.
Shape and Pattern
Bloodroot leaves catch attention with their sculpted shape, while the northern maidenhair fern have fronds that grow in captivating spiral patterns.
A few more unique leaf shapes include tulip tree, sensitive fern and sassafras tree leaves.
Zoom In, Zoom Out
Don’t stop at unique leaves or flowers in full bloom. Take notice of other features, such as buds, berries, nuts or bark. Zoom in for some close-ups, but remember to also step back or look up. Fall colours of locally native trees and shrubs are included in our recently updated Woodland Plant List.
Invite Guests
You may need some patience, but capturing insects on camera is worth the wait. Pollinators love asters and blazing-stars and move from flower to flower on their multi-blooming stems.
Also consider some other pollinator favourites such as locally native goldenrods, milkweeds, wild bergamot or common boneset.
Observe, Learn, Experiment
Observe plants in your garden or neighbourhood and use CVC’s plant lists to discover unique plant features. Keep learning about photo techniques, like framing your main subject off centre and using the rule of thirds. Experiment with techniques like choosing the portrait setting on your smart phone to blur the background.
Using a tripod and/or a DSLR camera will help you take your photos to the next level, and some people experiment with filters before posting online. Most importantly, get out in your garden and see what features you can find to spotlight!