Improving Your Garden Photographs

ByAlice Jordon

Henry County Master Gardener

Most Common Mistakes

• Camera Movement• Subject In Middle Of Photo• Camera Focuses On Wrong Thing• Too Much (or Too Little) Light

Camera Movement

Make your body into a tripod Spread feet apart Tuck in elbows Move nothing but one finger

Top Photo—no camera movement

Bottom Photo shows camera movement

Do not place main subject in center of picture

Rule of Thirds

Camera Focuses on Wrong Thing

Learn to use focus lock. Press shutter half way down then move camera to desired composition.

Too Much Light

Over exposed (too much light)Decrease length of exposure orIncrease f-stop (bigger number= smaller lens opening)

Too Little Light

Under exposed(Too little light)Increase length of of exposure or decrease f-stop (smaller number= larger lens opening)

It is Usually Better to Have the Sun Behind You When You Shoot

Include foreground in wide angle shots

Simple backgrounds are best

Specific ideas for garden photos

• Shoot wide angle, close up, and in between• Fill the frame with a single color or texture• Shoot both horizontal and vertical• Morning and afternoon light is best as well as

overcast skies• Include garden art and structures• Get down to the level of the plant when

shooting• Include pictures of the gardener• Include pictures of visitors to your garden

Shoot wide angle, close up, and in between

Gibbs GardensBall Ground, GA

Fill the frame with a single color or texture

Shoot both horizontal and vertical

Morning and afternoon light is best as well as overcast skies

Include garden art and structures

Get down to the level of the plant when shooting

Include pictures of the gardener

Include pictures of visitors to your garden

Master Gardener Photos

Many Thanks To The Following Master Gardeners For Contributing Pictures

• Claire Crumbly• Stephanie Felton• Alice and Larry Jordon• Debra McCullar• Steven Mellott• Judy Morrow• Mary Osterholt• Jim Parks

Edit your Pictures

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