International Garden Photographer of the Year

I can't think of a better way to celebrate a perfect St. George's Day yesterday than a trip to Lacock with Threadspider to see the International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition. This features the results of the first IGPOTY competition held in 2007/2008 and Lacock Abbey is one of the few venues chosen to show these photographs. Where could be better than the garden where William Henry Fox Talbot experimented with his Pencil of Nature? The photographs were breathtaking and a number of the finalists demonstrated that it takes only a back garden and a keen eye to take a winning image, such as the stunning portrait of a grass snake taken by David Maitland in Calne - a mere 10 miles from here.

Ever since I'd known this exhibition was coming to Wiltshire I'd been intrigued as to how it would be staged in the open air. It looked like the images were printed onto a waterproof board - there was no sign of lamination. I also liked the sinuous path that the exhibition took through the centre of the garden with a boardwalk to keep those feet off the grass, plus the play of the tree's shadow on the photographs echoing the tree in the overall winning image. With hardly a soul in sight there was plenty of time to marvel.

We also explored the rest of the garden where the highlights were the frou-frou tulips in one corner and a jealous peek at the walled allotments the local villagers get to tend. There was the scent of wild garlic and magnolias in the air and the light was just perfect: that spring moment when it highlights the vibrancy of the fresh green growth on the trees and slants through the flowers so they shine outwards.

The exhibition is at Lacock until the 3rd of May, or you can have a sneaky look here, where you will also find details of this year's competition.

Comments

  1. James A-S24 April 2009 at 11:41

    What a good idea to have garden pictures outside although I suspect it may not have been squite as delightful in the pouring rain!

    ReplyDelete
  2. petoskystone24 April 2009 at 13:40

    i wonder, did the robin get the worm?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Monica the Garden Faerie24 April 2009 at 13:45

    St. George's Day? A nice day out is always good, though.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gail24 April 2009 at 13:55

    Hi VP...Monica asked my question! What an interesting show it must have been...we have sculpture gardens...but it's not often that art installations are outdoors! Have a sweet weekend in your garden! gail

    ReplyDelete
  5. Alice Joyce24 April 2009 at 16:02

    Veep, I enjoyed reading about your day at Lacock. And clicking to see last year's visit, and the fierce flooding: My town has a similar problem - every 15 years or so the damage is very serious, affecting as many as 300 homes and shops. Spring must be full-on in your garden now?

    ReplyDelete
  6. HappyMouffetard24 April 2009 at 19:30

    Oooh - I'm so envious. I'll have to see if it's coming anywhere near us.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Juliet24 April 2009 at 20:43

    Thanks for giving the link to the photos, VP - they are fabulous. I'm envious too!

    ReplyDelete
  8. VP26 April 2009 at 09:08

    James - I thought that too, but luckily most of the time the exhibition's been at Lacock, the weather's been unseasonably fine

    Petoskystone - that's a stunning image isn't it?

    Monica - it's the patron saint of England! There's a link to all about him in my April events diary. Why we have a dragon slaying Turk as our patron saint is a rather moot point, especially as he appears to be the patron saint of several other countries, the Scouts and all manner of things!

    Alice - yes spring is full-on here :) And it was a great day.

    HM - I think it's on tour a bit more than I first thought - hopefully up north to near you

    Juliet - they're great photos and it's a most civilised way to go and view them.

    ReplyDelete

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