In the Garden

I bought a pot of tulips today! They will have to stay on the dining table for a few weeks but they are a symbol that spring is coming! Up here in the cold northern states, we really look forward to the spring! The term 'spring thaw' is very real-- and very welcome-- when you have been looking at several feet of snow for the last 6 months! When nature's dressier side comes around again in the spring, I rejoice! I love to to walk the neighborhood, to garden in my own gardens, and later sit on my porch looking out on the flowerbeds. Capturing warm weather blossoms on film gives me a good reason to check the garden often. If you love the out of doors for any reason, maybe you can use some of these fresh ideas for pages. Let's showcase some of nature's bounty in our layouts!

Photographing your Garden:

Use the right film. Shooting pics on a bright sunny day means using 100 or 200 speed film. However, on a cloudy or overcast day, use 400 or 800 speed film. For best overall results, pick an overcast day for your photo session outdoors in the garden. Details show more with a slight shadow. Choose a overcast day if possible. Bright direct light is usually just as hard on the rose as it is on you.

Take close ups. Zoom in and focus the shot if it is of plant life. Beauty is in the details. Use a wide tree as a backdrop for a wonderful bark texture behind your subject.

Take a lot of shots. The wind may blow the bloom out of focus slightly or a bug may land on your nose. But if you take more shots, you will be more likely to land the perfect photo!

Feeling buggy? Speaking of bugs, have your human subjects wear bug spray. They will be less likely to get spooked or crabby during your outdoor photo shoot.

Don't forget the garden architecture! Chances are you have some great gazing ball, trellis, fountain, or rock formations in your garden. Document them. Walk all the way around them to get the best angle.

Use black and white film too. Color shots are lovely. But try a few more in black and white. It is amazing how the composition and focus of the photo shifts when the color is hidden! You will find unexpected treasures!

Add some people. Who is your favorite gardener? Is it you? Why do you garden? Get some photos of the worker bee in the garden! Casual shots are a natural in the outdoors. Human figures also give a sense of scale to distance shots. Or zoom in and shoot. Have them hold a blossom close their face. Shoot from the side for a change.
Keep an album or a notebook to document what works. As far as scenic photography, make notes on what distances, films, and poses worked well this time around. Consult that listing next season. As for documenting the plantings in the garden itself, use your photos to record how the garden is growing and what plants need changes.

Spring Titles: Choose one and let that Page Idea Grow!
(Titles collected from a variety of sources over the last 5 years)

Spring is here!!
April Showers
Singin’ in the Rain
Awesome Blossoms!
Tiptoe Through the Tulips
Puddle jumpin'
Rain, rain, go away, come again another day.
Raindrops keep falling on my head.
Welcome Spring
Spring Blossoms
Spring Season
Flower Garden
Spring Fever
In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb
Little Lambs
Happy Spring!
One Fine Day
On a Spring Walk
The Spirit of Spring
First Day of Spring
Spring Beauty
Nothing is so beautiful as spring.
The sun will come out tomorrow
Showers of Blessings
Think Spring
Spring baby
Springtime
Smells of Spring
Spring Cleaning
Spring Fling
Spring Break
Celebration of Spring
Sliding into Spring
Spring Flowers (could use different ones, ie...Tulips, daffodils, daisy’s, etc..)
First Smiles of Spring Everything's coming up Roses
Bunny hop
Little purple pansies
In the leafy treetops
Hello spring
Sunshine shower
April showers bring may flowers
Umbrella brigade
Swing into Spring
Rainy days make memories bloom.
Friends are the Flower in the Garden of Life
May Flowers
Springtime in the Park
Spring is in the Air
Take time to smell the flowers.
Spring has Sprung
Spring Hike
Hop into Spring
Beauty of Springtime
Spring Cuties
Spring Sweethearts
Spring Love
Spring Chicks
You are my Sunshine
Bloom where you are planted
Tulip Time
Let’s go Fly a Kite
May Day
First Day of Spring
Spring brings Smiles
April Fool’s Day
Hooray for Spring
A Spring Day makes your Heart Sing
It's Spring and Look Who's Blooming!
Your friendship's like a touch of spring that warms and brightens everything!
It's always SPRING in a Mother's heart mother
BEE-SY Spring
A Smile as sweet as SPRING
Spring in -----
Spring Has Sprung
Soar into Spring
Spring is in full Bloom
Signs of Spring
A loving heart brings joy to all in winter, summer, spring or fall.
Life's finer seeds provide Life's finer moments.
Inspiration...a perfect spring afternoon...
Flowers--like you--are the sweetest things
Enjoy the Glory of an April day
In the Spring.
The fresh breath of springtime

Other Springtime Technique Treatments for Floral Pages:
From sticker borders, stamped accents, kaleidoscope mats, gardener paper dolls, punch art flowers, paper-piecings, and decorated die cuts, there are endless nature themed treatments for spring pages. Besides those shown in this article, try a few of the following techniques.

Penwork Flowers
Decorating Eggs and Ovals
Sliced Punchwork Flowers
Folded Garden Trellis Border

More Photography tips for Floral Subjects can be found at the Following Sites.

***image6:right***Kodak
Plantea
Tamron

Go out and enjoy the great outdoors while you can. Snap a few pics and then relax and sip a glass of tea in the garden soon for me.

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