Bright, still days are rare in February. I've lost count of the times I've steadied the camera lens on some exquisite snowdrop only to have the wind gust and the image blur, or it has proven too dark because it's winter and the flash seems to wash the vitality of the flower away, or the result seems to have lost all its detail, or ... So here is a link to a helpful article from Alexandra Campbell that in turn is based on the advice of photographer, Lisa Valder. The article, How to create beautiful photos of snowdrops, was written a year ago and I do wish I had discovered it earlier. It might have saved me many a disappointment. I've added Alexandra's excellent blog to my list on the right.
I have to confess to being a minor snowdrop addict. I inherited carpets of the common ones in the woodlands around our house and have just started collecting some of the more special varieties. So far: Jaquenetta, Lady Elphinstone, Viridapice. I can't help feeling I'll be adding more this year. Slippery slope.
ReplyDeleteWere I to have woodland I would certainly grow the specials but beware theft. I regularly visit a country house/hotel in North Yorkshire where Clare Oglesby has some unusual varieties available to see on her snowdrop days. They are just beginning to spread and, anyway, she has the more normal ones in liberal profusion. (http://mygalanthusgarden.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/goldsborough-hall-snowdrop-days.html)
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