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Masterclass with Clive Nichols - RHS Rosemoor, Devon - The Amateur Photographer Masterclass with Clive Nichols - Gardens

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Thursday 12th August 2010

Clive Nichols shows four AP readers how to capture fantastic views at RHS Rosemoor in Devon. Gemma Padled joined them.

RHS Garden Rosemoor

Location
Situated in the heart of North Devon, RHS Garden Rosemoor comprises 65 acres of beautiful formal and informal gardens, woodland walks, water features and open spaces. In 1988, the Rosemoor estate was donated to the RHS by its owner, Lady Anne. RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH. Tel: 01805 624 067 Email: rosemooradmin@rhs.org.uk.
Opening times
Open all year except Christmas Day, 10am-6pm April-September, 10am-5pm October-March, 10am-4pm Boxing Day. Last admission one hour before closing. Visit www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor for more information.
Admission charges
RHS members free, adults £7, children (6-16) £2.50, under six years free.

We've all taken pictures of gardens, whether formally sculptured plots of land or our own humble patches of earth, but how do you create garden images with flair? In this month's Masterclass, Clive Nichols invited four AP readers to the beautiful RHS Garden at Rosemoor in North Devon to spend the day photographing idyllic garden views.

The aim of the day was to photograph the garden as whole, rather than close-ups of flowers. This was a challenge due to the mildly unfavourable weather, which was for the most part grey and overcast. Never one to let a little cloud dampen his spirits, Clive explained how to compensate for the below-par light and was on hand throughout the day to share his garden photography tips.

'The trick to achieving images with character is to use the surrounding elements in the most imaginative way possible,' says Clive. 'It is important to get to know and understand the structure and shape of the garden before you start shooting. I usually spend time wandering around getting a feel for how the garden is laid out. As I'm doing this I try to work out the kind of shots I can take and make a mental note of possible viewpoints.

You don't have to take any images while you are doing this; the point of the exercise is to look closely at the different components of the garden and allow compositions to start to form in your mind. You can revisit these spots later when you're ready to start shooting.'

Clive showed the participants how to combine and contrast colour, frame their shots to create layers and so give the impression of depth, choose a viewpoint to create maximum impact, look for patterns and shapes, incorporate elements such as statues, water features or even people, and experiment with moving the camera while using longer shutter speeds to create images with a more abstract edge. The readers brought their own cameras, lenses and tripods with them. Making their way to the 'Square/hot garden' and with plans to visit the rose gardens, 'Stream garden field' and fruit and vegetable garden, Clive and the readers braced themselves for a full day's photography.

Your AP Master…

Clive Nichols
Clive is one of the UK's most respected garden photographers. With more than 20 years' experience, Clive's images have been published in numerous books, calendars and magazines. As well as being one of AP's Photo Insight experts, Clive runs regular workshops for the Royal Horticultural Society and is a judge for the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition. For more information visit www.clivenichols.com.

The AP readers…

Trish Auciello
Trish, 54, lives in Lincolnshire and uses a Nikon D90 with 10-20mm, 18-105mm and 70-300mm lenses. She bought her first DSLR two years ago and enjoys photographing a wide variety of subjects, including nature. To see more of Trish's images visit www.flickr.com/photos/noblebird.

Jenny Johnson Burrows
Jenny, 34, works as a software developer and lives in Middlesex. She uses a Nikon D300 with an 18-200mm and a 60mm macro lens. 'I enjoy taking pictures of details we don't normally notice,' she says, 'and using motion and a shallow depth of field to create abstraction'. Visit www.jennyburrows.co.uk to see more of her images.

John Baker
John, 50, lives in Teignmouth, Devon, and uses a Canon PowerShot G11 with various lens attachments, including a 21mm adapter. 'I got in close and looked for unusual shapes and textures,' says John. 'It was fun to share a day taking pictures with other photographers'.

Gordon Nesbitt
Gordon, 47, lives in Exeter, Devon. He uses a Nikon D700 with an 8mm fisheye and a 12-300mm lens. 'It was interesting working to a brief and a challenge photographing the garden as a whole,' says Gordon.

Would you like to take part?

Every month we invite three to five AP readers to join one of our experts on an assignment over the course of a day. The experts are Lee Frost (landscapes), Brett Harkness (portraits), Paul Hobson (wildlife) and Clive Nichols (gardens). This is Clive's second Masterclass, and he will appear again in December. Paul will appear in September, with Lee appearing in October and Brett in November.

If you would like to take part, visit www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/masterclass for details of how to apply. Please remember to state which Masterclass you would like to attend and make sure you include your name, address, email address and daytime telephone number in your application. Each participant will be able to use his or her own camera, lenses and other equipment.

The annual RHS photographic competition 2010 is open for submissions until 31 August 2010. To find out how to enter, visit www.rhs.org.uk/Competitions/Photo-competition.