One Week Until the Harvest

It's hard to believe, but we are only a week away from our Harvesting Your Best Shots workshop, where we will explore how to choose not just your favorite photo from a collection, but your best photo. The photo which is most likely to score well because it meets all of the competition requirements.

We will look at each of the categories for the Federated Garden Clubs of Maryland photography competition and talk about how to make your photo stand out from the other competitors.

To have your best workshop experience, please reply to this message (or e-mail me directly) with several photos from one of the categories below. I'll have plenty of example photos, but the heart of our workshop will be ranking pictures to see how they fit in a scoring rubric similar to the one your judges will use. Don't just share your best shot! Take several pictures of each flower, tree, vine, or animal and share two or three versions of the photo. By comparing and ranking our pictures, we'll all become better at seeing what judges are looking for.

Native Plants - We'll look at how focusing in on a specific detail and using your camera's composition tools deliberately can transform a photo of a vine, shrub, or flower into something that really commands attention.

Annuals, Birds, and Insects - This category rewards balanced color and a unique viewpoint. Whether you're photographing a bloom, a leaf formation, or a cool cluster of aphids (hopefully not too many), the angle you choose matters as much as the mood you're trying to convey.

Silhouettes - This one is all about lighting. Getting a strong silhouette of a tree or shrub means understanding how to align your subject and your light source so the shape really sings.

Artistic Flower Arranging - Here, your arrangement needs to express who you are as a gardener and a floral artist. Capturing that on camera means paying careful attention to the details you want to show off, without letting background clutter steal the scene.

Here's a rubric that breaks down what judges are likely looking for in photography competitions big and small:

The workshop is Monday, May 11th at 1:00 PM Eastern. I've included the zoom link and password  below. Seats are currently sold out, but you're welcome to bring a friend along when you join the Zoom call.

I can't wait to see what you all share from your spring gardens! See you on the 11th.

~Linke