Five Minutes with…
Rachel Warne, garden photographer
Earlier this year Rachel Warne won the Royal Photographic Society Portfolio category in the International Garden Photographer Of The Year competition with her images of Pentille Castle (below). Rachel, who for a number of years has donated images to the NGS for use in The Yellow Book, gave us 5 minutes of her time recently.
What made you choose photography as a career?
From the age of 16 I realised that I loved art and wanted to work in a creative field, so photography was a natural progression for me.
What’s your favourite (NGS!) garden?
That’s a tough one for me and very subjective and difficult to single out just one! Of those that I’ve shot, my favourites would probably be York Gate (Yorkshire), Beth Chatto's garden (Essex) in October, Coton Manor (Northamptonshire) and 12 Chapel Street (Cambridgeshire)
What has been your best/worst assignment?
They are all brilliant in their own way, there have been so many. Staying at a castle in Portugal with the Levens Hall topiary team was amazing. The combination of the gardens, the people, good old hard graft and super hospitality made the trip, not forgetting the great local wine!
The worst type of assignment involves Mother Nature especially. When I drove all the way to the south of France to find that all the irises were dead by the time I got there. That was fun!
If it hadn’t been photography what do you think you would be doing now?
Trying to be the next David Attenborough and avoiding sitting in front of a computer!!
What are your top tips to improve the garden images that I might take?
Get up early to get the best light in the summer and avoid harsh 12 noon light. Bright sunlight is not always the best light. You will get much richer plant colour on slightly overcast days. Don't be afraid to shoot from different angles – really high or low. Shoot winter gardens, they are wonderful and you don't have to get up at 4am!
Other Winners
The overall winner of the competition was Marianne Majerus whose fabulous image of Manor House Farm, Norfolk is on the front cover of The Yellow Book this year. A deserved and special mention must also be given to John Hinde, who is our Deputy County Organiser in Cheshire. An image submitted by John (right) was ‘Highly Commended’. Congratulations to you all!
Entries to the 2011 International Garden Photographer of the Year competition are now being accepted with a deadline for entries of 30th November 2010.
Entries to a special 4Seasons ‘Insect Beauties’ category, focussing on summer insects in the garden, is now also open with a closing date of 31st August 2010.
Full details of the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition, master classes and exhibitions can be found at www.igpoty.com