Phao Hewitson is a Midlands - based Photographer and Blogger who specialise in plant and garden photography .
Her portfolio swash an raiment of stunning plant life portraits and picturesque garden showcasing her expert skill and deep - root passion for flower .
I spoke to Phao about her modification in calling from the NHS to photography , her experience as a hobbyist Photographer and her estimate of the ‘ perfect icon ’ .
How Did You Get Into Photography And Garden Photography In Particular?
“ I ’ve always revel taking photos and would have a camera with me whenever we were at mob events , holiday and days out , but until quite recently , picture taking was just a sideline , ” excuse Phao .
“ My principal career was previously in the NHS , but I ’ve been garden for peace and relaxation all my adult sprightliness and my passionateness for capturing range of a function of plant has mature with my love of horticulture .
“ Most of my other photograph are near - ups of gorgeous flowers , taken as we developed our garden and I started visiting other people ’s gardens – I love NGS visits !
Credit: Phao Hewitson
“ After a while , my married man Chris surprised me with the gift of my first DSLR tv camera , a Nikon D3100 , and with this great piece of kit , the lineament of my pictures improved and I was cheer to start a blog to showcase both our garden and the exposure I was contain .
“ I now use a Nikon D7100 , which was another pressie from Chris a couple of old age ago . ”
Why Do You Like Photographing Plants And Gardens?
“ A beautiful plant or garden evokes an worked up response , with all senses stimulate , ” she says .
“ A garden implant with an expert eye for flow , colour and texture can be breathtaking . This reception is obviously best experience in the material body , but capturing it forever in a photo is the next full matter – if only we could capture the fragrance !
“ There ’s also the magic of a well - planted garden over the seasons . There are gardens where no sojourn is ever the same and photographic chance present themselves all year round . ”
Credit: Phao Hewitson
How Do You Go About Capturing The Perfect Image?
“ Composing a shot is my favourite part of the process , but the technicality of it is the least !
“ With composition , there are a yoke of hard rules that I follow , but primarily it ’s just about bear an centre for a scene . The technicality of setting up the photographic camera to accomplish the good result can change with the cloud and you really have to be on the ball .
“ For me , the perfect prototype is alert and the perceiver can imagine the flavour and spirit of the plant life or garden it portrays . This persona is n’t flat , so the sparkle , time of solar day and weather conditions have to be right . ”
Credit: Phao Hewitson
Do You Have Any Standout Experiences From Your Career?
“ This has to be my succeeder in a competition lead by the National Garden Scheme in its centenary year , at a time when photography was still a rocking horse of mine , ” Phao contribution .
“ There was an awards ceremony at the Garden Museum in London and I ’d been invite but did n’t bed that I was the overall moon curser - up . When my persona appear on the huge screen in front of the audience I was altogether gobsmacked , but so proud .
“ I also gather Lucy Hall , who was editor program of Gardeners ’ World magazine at the time , and had a second lovely surprise when she narrate me the ikon would be ‘ September ’ in their 2018 calendar .
Credit: Phao Hewitson
“ I ’ve also had another lovely experience this year with a successful lotion for a press pass to Chelsea ! ”
What Difficulties Have You Faced With Photographing Gardens?
“ Light , wind and brilliant sunlight , as well as people who move into your barb just as you press the shutter ! ” she joke .
“ I ’m chiefly an outdoor photographer , so the elements can be a challenge , peculiarly if it ’s a planned upshot such as a show or opened garden , as you ca n’t pick out the date .
“ However , the main difficulty I ’ve confront have been strictly technical . When I started out as an untrained photographer , I naively did n’t know that a good photo was n’t just in its composition , the preferences on the camera take to be place up to take an look-alike that would pass a technical quality test .
Credit: Phao Hewitson
“ So my first portfolio meekness to GAP result in 66 % being decline due to them not being in focus at 100 % – I had no idea what this meant !
“ fortuitously , the team at GAP were really tolerant and helpful and explained the design of essential options . My next compliance passed and I ’m now one of their contributors . ”
What Is Unique About Your Photographing Process?
“ I ’m not trusted that alone is the right description for my picture taking , but I think I have an effective style , ” she muses .
“ I particularly like to be tied with subjects , even if it imply lying on the ground . My picture of crocus in late winter is a good example of this . ”
What Advice Would You Give To Aspiring Garden Photographers?
“ Do it ! I have no regrets about choosing breast feeding and the NHS for a career , but the rewards from stick with a dream and using your creative power are immense and should be quest for at a hobby level at the very least .
“ In hire up garden photography , raw opportunities open up up in the physique of inspect some of the most beautiful out-of-door spaces . Plus , unless it ’s long-winded , plants do n’t move much – not like subjects from the brute realm ! ”
What’s Next For You?
“ I ’m really busybodied catalog the photos I ’ve taken over the last few months at show and notably Monet ’s Garden at Giverny in France , ” says Phao .
“ I ’m also prioritise forge on my website , but there are n’t enough hours in the twenty-four hour period to keep it up to date .
“ I ’ve of late had my first deputation write and now care to promote my work to pull the next one . ”
Credit: Phao Hewitson
