Molly is an prize - winning Garden Photographer who specialises in portraits of plants , flowers , louse and gardens and is the recipient of many accolades , include the Lifetime Achievement Bar by the Guild of Photographers in 2019 .
She is also the author ofCreative Flower and Plant Photography , which was release in 2022 – and writes on a regular basis for issue such as Amateur Photographer .
In this interview Molly proffer tips for aspiring photographers and an insight into her incredible photography techniques .
How Did You First Get Into Photography?
“ Growing up as the daughter of artists and potters , I have visited galleries all my animation and have always enjoy all the visual arts and find real breathing in there , ” explains Molly .
“ When my children were born , I tack from line and painting to photography to get them as they grew and grease one’s palms a Pentax DSLR , as I had antecedently had a Pentax cinema camera .
“ The pivotal consequence for my transposition to flower photography however was probably when I gain a Sony RX10iii bridge television camera in Amateur Photography powder store in 2017 .
“ This showed me the real potential of flash with a tenacious lens . Prior to this , I ’d had nothing more than 100 mm , but now had the equivalent of 600 mm to play with , which mean I could zoom in from a distance and the background behind the subject would be pleasingly smudge . ”
What Led You To Find A Passion For Garden Photography In Particular?
“ Whilst I have always loved nature , I only begin specialising as a blossom , industrial plant and garden photographer about six years ago , ” she says .
“ antecedently I had been concerned in most writing style of picture taking , especially landscape , portrait and street photography , and these music genre still inspire me , even though I do n’t shoot them as much these day .
“ I have love gardening all my life and so it feel like two passions were joining forces at this point and became something I had a literal enthusiasm for . ”
What Is It About Plants & Insects That Make You Want To Photograph Them?
“ I hear that I loved to model , often for an hour , restfully in my garden or a local public garden , observing the lowly details of nature and how the light fell upon them .
“ Shooting small topic with a long genus Lens from a aloofness think of that I could still preserve the detail of most of the flower or louse – and not disturb them .
“ One of my favourite flower photos of a blue Nigella blossom ( which won theRHS Photography ‘ Plants ’ family in 2021 ) is assume in just this way , at full zoom , but retaining enough item to preserve the petals and flower bract whilst giving an ethereal light with its blurry screen background .
“ Light and colour are so significant to my elan , and I ’ll study how the great artists and photographers use them at distance as part of my photographic growing .
“ I am also passionate about protecting our surround and encouraging all wildlife ( even white Anglo-Saxon Protestant , which I used to have a phobia of ! ) to my garden , and I ’m continually delighted that all my local garden have head gardeners that are equally passionate about protecting and encouraging pollinators and other insects .
“ By sharing my ikon of little but essential wildlife , I hope to encourage others to do the same . ”
How Do You Go About Capturing The ‘Perfect Image’? What Does This Look Like To You?
“ The affair with most flower and plants is that they all have their own beauty and I just necessitate to find the best manner to catch that , ” Molly shares .
“ Bringing out the figure and the colour of the plant is the most important thing . Even plants that are no longer alert , such as seed head , can be beautiful .
“ I often use a macro ( tight - up ) lens if the flower is small and sometimes this agency you’re able to see involution that would not normally be notice . ”
What Has Been One Of Your Favourite Experiences During Your Career?
“ The day my Word of God , Creative Flower and Plant Photography , was published was incredibly special as I ’d managed to write it over three year at the same metre as I had a full - fourth dimension task teaching and was looking after my two children .
“ It was almost an unreal mo to hold it in my hands and have it last end up ! It ’s sell really well and is often in the ‘ well seller ’ photography categories on Amazon . ”
Can You Explain Some Of The Challenges With Garden Photography? What Difficulties Have You Faced?
“ The challenges often descend from the weather , but not those that you would expect , ” Molly explains .
“ Harsh sunshine with no cloud can be the hardest light to photograph in as it produce abrasive shadows on the blossom that take away from their intricate detail .
“ Windy days are difficult too – snap flowers in the idle words is like trying to photograph a move child or deary ! ”
How Do You Go About Photographing Wildlife? What Is Unique About Your Process?
“ Whilst I do sometimes shoot birds , it ’s mainly insects that I enjoy photograph , from ladybeetle to bee , to moth and caterpillars , ” she says .
“ A particular case of interest aright now is the tiny blossom Cancer spiders in my garden that camouflage themselves to the flower they sit on .
“ I always use a macro lens of the eye for this and look carefully at the position of the insect on the prime . I often take up to a hundred shot , as it moves around so that I can find the pic later that has the in force composition . ”
What Advice Would You Give To Those Thinking About Getting Into Plant & Wildlife Photography?
“ I would corrupt a reasonable DSLR or bridge television camera , as mobile phones are n’t usually high quality enough for particular , ” she recommends .
“ I ’d suggest looking second - hand for this as even cameras that are ten days old can be perfectly acceptable . A macro lense is believably required if you desire to photograph very close up or small thing like insects .
“ Get inspiration by searching hashtags on Instagram , like # ladybird , and see how other photographer have bewitch the things you are interested in photographing .
“ I have pile of advice in my book for those interested in starting to snap flower and gardens , so maybe I should add buy a copy of my book to this list ! ”
What’s Next For You?
“ I ’ve just had six pic shortlisted in the British Wildlife Photography Awards ( all insects ) . Insect photography is something I want to do even more to invoke sentience of how important it is to wait after our diminutive creatures and pollinators , as they are in such massive downslope .
“ I ’m also presently working on a portfolio of vegetable close - ups which is a little snatch dissimilar and really very exciting ! ”
