Control the light<\/strong>. Direct bright sunlight produces deep shadows and bright highlights that hide important details from the camera. Better results are achieved by photographing in early or late in the date, or by using a translucent panel to diffuse the light. Holt demonstrated the dramatic improvement provided by a collapsible disc designed for the purpose.<\/p>\n Fill the frame<\/strong>. Casual snapshots often include too much of the area surrounding the subject of the photo. The picture will be more effective when the photographer brings the camera close in, so that the subject occupies all the space.<\/p>\n Compose the image<\/strong>. Position the camera for an interesting view of the subject. Well-composed snapshots can become artworks!<\/p>\n A valuable\u2014and really old\u2014 guideline for image composition is the Rule of Thirds. When looking through the viewfinder, imagine two lines dividing the scene into thirds vertically, and two more lines dividing the scene into thirds horizontally. Placing important elements of the image along these lines or at their intersections will produce a more dynamic and interesting composition. On the other hand, centering the subject in the frame tends to yield a static image.<\/p>\n The Rule of Thirds guided the composition of this photo of a group of Aloe polyphyllas, \u00a0seen at the Succulent Extravaganza. These fascinating plants are\u00a0<\/span>endemic<\/a>\u00a0to the\u00a0<\/span>Kingdom of Lesotho<\/a>\u00a0in the\u00a0<\/span>Drakensberg<\/a>\u00a0mountains of South Africa.\u00a0<\/span>(Click to enlarge).<\/p>\n Aloe Polyphylla<\/p><\/div>\n Holt emphasized the use of a tripod while composing the image, and recommended bringing the camera down to the level of the plant, rather than looking down on it from a standing position.<\/p>\n Successful photographs can extend the pleasures of gardening. As always when developing other skills, give your best effort to each session of garden photography and then study the results!<\/p>\n More<\/p>\n Several good books on garden photography are available on the Amazon.com website<\/a>, and might be found\u00a0in your local library or bookstore.<\/p>\n Visit Saxon Holt’s website<\/a> to\u00a0enjoy a selection of his\u00a0photographs.<\/p>\n His impressive work also is represented in several garden-related books, which can be found by searching amazon.com for “Saxon Holt.”<\/a><\/p>\n On Tuesday, November 11th, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.,\u00a0at the University of California Berkeley Botanical Garden,\u00a0Holt\u00a0will present a hands-on workshop, “Composition and Balance,”\u00a0This class is intended for serious photographers, who should arrive early with camera and tripods to work with Saxon as he tours the Garden. The morning shoot will be followed by a presentation, download of the morning’s work and an afternoon critique. Enrollment fee ($90\/$75 for members) includes a copy of the Holt’s e-book,\u00a0The PhotoBotanic Garden Photography Workshop.<\/em><\/p>\n Info: gardenprograms@berkeley.edu<\/a>, 510-642-7082.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This year\u2019s Succulent Extravaganza exceeded its already high marks for learning about succulent plants and buying plants and garden containers. Experts from throughout California presented interesting talks on the practical care and use of succulent plants, and innovative uses of … Continue reading ![\"Aloe](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ongardening.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Aloe-polyphylla.jpg?resize=150%2C150\")
<\/a>