RHS Photographic Competition 2018 Winners

RHS Photographic Competition

This image is of a soldier beetle spotted during summer in a meadow of wavy hair grass (Deschampsia flexuosa) near Manchester. Taken with a Sony 77.

 

This image is a portrait of a grasshopper observed by the photographer in a garden, blending perfectly with the leaves of a succulent plant, seen while on a road trip near Little Petra in Jordan. Taken using a Nikon D600.

 

Portrait of a wild tulip (Tulipa), capturing the harmony of nature and taken in the cool, clear dawn light, near Kharabali in the Kharabalinsky district, Russia. Taken using a Nikon D800.

 

Portrait of a charismatic wild beech tree (Fagus), captured displaying autumnal tints growing in a forest in the Malá Fatra mountains, Slovakia. Taken using a Canon 5D MkIII.

 

Snow-bound Arctic forest on hills south of Nuorgam in the north of Finland, home to the Sami community and a population of more than 4,000 reindeer. Taken with a Canon 5D.

 

Close up detail of a leaf spine of succulent Agave americana from a plant growing at the University of Ljubljana Botanical Garden in Slovenia. Taken with a Nikon F90 camera using Fujifilm Fujichrome Velvia 50 film.

 

Portrait of cyclamen, lit using spectral light generated from a prism in sunlight, used to ‘paint’ these otherwise white flowers and give them new character. The photographer’s intention was to portray an intimate conversation between the two flowers. Taken using a Nikon D610.

 

Monochrome aerial view of a deciduous forest during winter in Sochi, Russia, the stark frozen landscape representative of the relationship between nature and people. Taken on Fujifilm X-E2.

 

Fighting male sparrows in flight, seen in the Ryazan region, Russia. Taken using a Canon 7D.

 

Portrait of an apparently smiling damselfly, resting on an emerging leaf, seen during the monsoon at Randarda Nursery Garden, Rajkot in India. Taken using a Canon 1200D.

 

Autumnal view of the planting by garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith beside The Glasshouse at RHS Garden Wisley, featuring Miscanthus grass, pillars of Carpinus, fiery colours from a young Prunus ‘Shogetsu’ and golden tints from mature oaks. Taken using a Canon 5D MkIV.

 

In winter, it is often a garden’s structure that makes it photogenic, here provided by a formal pool reflecting the sky, and terracotta  pots and topiary that draw the eye toward the distant landscape. The sculpture expresses the joy of being in a garden like this at  any time of year. Taken using a Nikon D3X.

 

Magnolias caught at sunrise in Rhododendron-Park Bremen, Germany. The early light transforms the site into a magical, dreamy and enchanting place; a vision of paradise. Taken using a Canon 70D.

 

Image taken in summer at dawn of a construction site in Kemerovo, Russia; the plants emerging between concrete slabs caught by the rays of the rising sun formed a harmonious composition and inspired the photographer. Taken with a Canon 650D.

 

Monochrome view of Central Park, taken in March 2016, showing silhouettes of trees backed by a soaring cityscape of skyscrapers, a dramatic illustration of the contrast between urban and nature. Taken using a Nikon D7000

 

Still life of a collection of planted containers in Iran, including an ingeniously recycled helmet used by the photographer’s father to grow seeds. Taken using a Canon 7D.

 

Image of a woodland taken on a snowy day in December at Thetford Forest in Norfolk, the falling snowflakes lending a sense of movement to the scene and contrasting with the last of autumn’s leaves. Taken using a Panasonic G80.

 

Portrait of Taxodium distichum(swamp cypress) growing on Seven Acres, at RHS Garden Wisley, taken in autumn 2017. The tangle of roots disappearing into the lake inspired the photographer; with the proper nourishment, great heights can be achieved if you remain firmly grounded and stay true to your roots. Taken using a Canon 200D.

 

A song thrush feasting on the winter berries of Cotoneaster growing in the photographer’s garden in Golden Valley, Riddings, Derbyshire. Taken using a Nikon D7000.

 

Grass flowers bejewelled with raindrops and silhouetted against the setting sun, representing the raw beauty of nature and plants and spotted by the photographer while on a hike in Halla-san National Park, Jeju Island, South Korea. Taken using a Nikon D610.

 

A pair of butterflies, probably fritillaries, caught in the act of mating, taken using a Nikon D90.

 

The drama of a forest canopy can be as inspiring as any cathedral or castle – here the 15-year-old photographer has looked up in the Kielder Forest, Northumberland, and seen a magical autumnal image. The pear green and gold leaves decorate the trees, making them full of life, while the white sky shining through makes it look like the branches are arms reaching to the heavens. Taken using a Nikon D7000.

 

Twin rows of ivy-clad birches (Betula) trunks as seen in Poland – the repetition of the trees and colouring makes for an impressive image, showing natural rhythm and pattern. Taken using a Sony H2.

 

Wild globe thistles (Echinops), captured in summer growing in the Pirin Mountains in Sandanski Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria. The village, which can be seen in the background, is Gorna Sushitsa. Taken using a Sony 5000.

 

Series of white flowers taken at slow shutter speed, with intentional camera movement (ICM) and in-camera double exposure. The aim was to create the appearance of ethereal dancing flowers. Basic adjustments in Photoshop, but no major alteration. Location: all images taken in my home studio, London.

 

My portfolio is inspired by the artists of the golden age of botanical painting. The RHS Lindley Library supported my research, providing the opportunity to see original works and first prints. My objective is to capture in a 21st-century medium the essence and purpose of this genre. Digital techniques including focus stacking and image blending have been used to provide the required level of detail and accuracy. Location: all images taken in my home studio, London.

 

Horticulture frequently presents us with plants that are uniform in appearance. However, a taxonomic description can be very broad to reflect a range of natural variation. Species Boundaries is a project I am currently working on to show this variation across several species. Fritillaria affinis is a variable species from north-western North America and this series shows specimens from Oregon and California to illustrate this variation. To underline the geography and unify the group a map motif is used as a background. Plants are shown life-size. Both focus stacking and layer stacking were used to create the digital images. Location: studio.

 

Although not on my doorstep, Wisley is close enough to enable me to make frequent visits to this location. As a keen natural history/botanical photographer Wisley is a delight and I am particularly attracted to the intricate detail and patterns of  plant structures particularly in abstract form. My subjects were mostly photographed in The Glasshouse; and the Canna in the Exotic Garden. Location: RHS Garden Wisley. Please note: some of the images were re-selected prior to judging – the final composition will be shown here shortly.

 

RHS Photographic Competition

 

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