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From Seed to Bloom
RPS Digital Imaging
In 2024 DI are expanding the Programme of Talks and Workshops on the subject of Plant, Flower and Garden Photography. The RPS Digital Imaging group's collaboration with the RHS continues, but we are taking a slightly different path and this new project is entitled 'From Seed to Bloom'.
Introducing our new project encompassing, Plants, Flowers and Garden Photography
Learn new processing techniques
Be inspired on ways to present your work
Sow the seed and watch it flourish
Talks, Walks, Workshops and Support
Springtime to Autumn 2024 and Beyond
Ideas and inspiration: Germinate and Water
Anything highlighted in BLUE is bookable
April to June
May:
- Creative Plant & Garden Photography a Presentation with Charles Needle May 4
- See-Make-Take second in the series of workshops with Celia Henderson The Tulip May 7 & 9
- June: SOLD OUT
- Hands on Workshop at Wisley with Charles Needle June 4
- See-Make-Take No 3 in series of workshops with Celia Henderson ‘What’s in the Garden’ June 4/6
- ‘Chasing Seasons’ a Talk with Polina Plotnikova about using Lensbaby & special effect lenses June 7
- How to edit Wow Photos on your phone a Workshop with Charles Needle featuring flowers June 11
JULY ONWARDS Continued below
Celia Henderson LRPS writes about her vision of this new series of workshops, part of the Seed to Bloom program which will select a seasonal flower each month.
The Art of Flower Photography is all about seeing the scene, taking the photo and making the art. We’ll start at the end of the process by visualising the finished masterpiece, consider your intended output (print medium, digital). That directs us to the take stage, what equipment, lens, camera settings, backgrounds, compositions, lighting, do we need. And before you even click the shutter button, reflect on the features and magic that can be applied from the post processing software.
Whether you are seeking to create a sharp botanical study, a still life, a competition entry or a dreamy watercolour painting, let me guide you through the “See-Take-Make” workflow. With each workshop putting seasonal flowers in the limelight, we will put our vision plan to the test and consider how to best capture the shot(s) and which tools will be required to complete the post processing workflow, so you are fully prepared and motivated to capture the tulips of spring, the sweet peas of summer, the glorious dahlias and rudbeckia of autumn and the resilient snowdrops in winter.
Spring Summer and Autumn: Nurture & Fertilise the Ideas
- Get out with your camera, Capture images of flowers at their best in your own time in your locality
- July:
- Supportive Image Evaluation with Charles Needle July 2. OBSERVE
- Supportive Image Evaluation with Charles Needle July 2 PARTICIPATE
- See-Make-Take No 4 in the series of workshops with Celia Henderson The Sweet Pea July 2/4
- How to capture Jaw Dropping Closeups using your Phone a Workshop with Charles Needle July 24
- See-Make-Take No 5 in the series of workshops with Celia Henderson The Rose July 30 Aug1
- Flower Photography with a Light Box Date to come.
- Two presentations by Cherry Larcombe Still Life Talk Oct 9
- Cherry Larcombe Triptychs Talk Nov 27
- See-Make-Take No 6 in the series of workshops with Celia Henderson Flowers of late summer Sept 7 SOLD OUT
- “How to Craft Painterly/Abstract Images Using Your iPhone – Part 1”with Charles & Melissa Needle Sept 17
- See-Make-Take No 7 in the series of workshops with Celia Henderson Early Autumn flowers and trees Oct I/3
- “How to Craft Painterly/Abstract Images Using Your iPhone – Part 2”with Charles & Melissa Needle
- Oct 8
- See-Make-Take No 8 in the series of workshops with Celia Henderson Autumn flowers and trees Nov 12/14
- See-Make-Take No 9 in the series of workshops with Celia Henderson Seed heads and spent flowers Jan 7/ 9 2025
- See-Make-Take No 10 in the series of workshops with Celia Henderson Snowdrops and signs of Spring Jan 28/ 30 2025
The Blooming
- Share and Present your project, online and on Virtual Gallery and Publications
- RHS Collaboration Advisory Sessions:- October/ November ( Still in the Planning )
- 1. What makes a successful RHS Portfolio Panel
- 2. Evaluation of Proposed Panel entries by RHS Judges
Reaping the Harvest and Beyond
- Prepare a Portfolio entry for the RHS Competition
- Use this project to make a book or Zine
- Consider all the new skills you have learnt
- See-Make-Take No11 in the series of workshops with Celia Henderson The Abstract processing of flowers Feb 25/27 2025
- See-Make-Take No 12 in the series of workshops with Celia Henderson The Crocus and Spring flowers March 29 2025
In 2023 Charles Needle gave DI a talk entitled 'Creative Smartphone Photography'. We have now invited him back, first with a presentation on Creative Flower and Garden Photography, followed by a Hands on workshop at RHS Garden Wisley in early June for 16 people. He will then carry out an Image appraisal in July and deliver 4 workshops diving deeper into various Phone apps, more details HERE
Charles Needle is an award-winning, Colorado-based fine art photographer, author, speaker and workshop leader with a unique eye for design and artistic interpretation. His popular “Art of Nature” creative macro workshops have attracted students nationwide. He has been a finalist in the International Garden Photographer of the Year and has received many other accolades. A popular conference and camera club speaker for more than two decades, Charles has authored three cutting-edge instructional books and is photography juror and teacher with international workshops in Monet's Garden (Giverny, France).
To learn more about Charles' work, including his workshop and private lesson offerings, visit www.charlesneedlephoto.com.
More presentations will follow. In June Polina Plotnikova will delight us with her beautiful flower images captured using her Lensbaby and other special effect lenses. She will talk of choosing the right lens for a particular shot and tips about particularly good locations for the seasons.One not to be missed especially if you have a 'Baby' of your own!
Cherry Larcombe ARPS, a Digital Imaging member, has been invited to talk to us later in the year. Cherry loves being able to be in control of the whole process, composing the shot, taking the shot, post processing the shot and finally printing it. It’s her attempt at being creative and artistic which gives her much enjoyment and fulfilment. She will share this creativity and her knowledge with us in a presentation about still Life with flowers and another on one of her favourite ways to present her images, Triptychs. Day and dates to be confirmed.
The Autumn months will bring more opportunities for an appraisal of your images, perhaps by invited experts or our peers. We will also welcome back the RHS judges, as we repeat the very popular advisory sessions for those with perspective RHS portfolio panels ready for appraisal for the 2025 Competition.
