Rose Bouquets

Gardening Gone Wild readers:  help me decide which photos to include in my new rose book.

Rose bouquet with pink rose ‘First Prize’ with floral wallpaper background

There are several sections to the book, explaining how to photograph roses in gardens and as close-up illustrations, but the section on bouquets has too many photos – or maybe not.  Help me out.

Girl as Mayfair princess with flower garland of roses in her hair

There are so many ways to make beautiful photos of roses that are not necessarily about gardening, so I want to include a section about roses in bouquets and arrangements to give photographers a few ideas.

Bouquet of pink rose ‘Tiffany’ on sun porch with lunch table

These are lifestyle photos, not really about gardening, and require a different set of skills as a photographer.  My workshop audiences have always been garden photographers, so I am not sure how many of these type photos will be useful.

Bouquet of rose ‘White Delight’ on floral print background

These are all rose photos to be sure, but much of what makes these kinds of photos beautiful is not about the garden or the camera, but the styling and setup.

Bouquet of pink rose ‘Jacques Cartier’ on table by window

These are all great examples of using roses and I am very proud of the photos, but I don’t have a whole lot of tips to say about photographing them, other than to find good roses and good props.  Then compose a photo.  Simple.

Woman in red sweater placing bouquet of white hybrid tea cut rose ‘Pascali’ by windowsill

Do you think photographers want to know the story behind a lot of photos ?  One tip is surely to take different photos of the same arrangement.  If you go to the trouble to set up a photo shoot, then take full advantage of it – as these two views of a bouquet of white Pascali roses from both sides of the window.

Bouquet of white rose ‘Pascali’ on windowsill

Sometimes just setting up the flower bouquet on the workbench is a charming photo.

Bouquet of fresh cut pink roses, ‘Bewitched’ on potting bench in greenhouse shed

And if you have a friend who is an extraordinary grower, such as my friend Michael Bates, challenge him to create a glorious bouquet.

Large floral arrangement of old roses

Or perhaps just showing the roses cut in a bucket as they condition.

Bucket of fresh cut old, heirloom roses conditioning in garden

So many choices.  Which ones would you like to see in a book about photographing roses ?

The book will be ready the end of the month.  I am taking preorders here. Sign up and ask for a Gardening Gone Wild 20% discount – since you have already seen some of the photos.

from Gardening Gone Wild http://gardeninggonewild.com/?p=29597