Gardening Gone Wild has issued a new sort of challenge for their”Picture This” contest this month. Usually the participants are found running around their own gardens (sometimes), the world, other people’s gardens, some public garden they visited once, some famous gardener’s piece de resistance , or their local Arboretum, many of them armed with fancy cameras and Photoshop. Everybody struggles with crappy light, impulsive wind, and lack of suitable scenery. There have been some spectacular photos entered over the months, the galleries are always wonderful to visit.
This time, the blog masters at GGW have posed a different task. We have been asked to get inspired by what is growing in our garden or neighborhood, play with our flatbed scanners and see what we can come up with.
Well, I have to say that ever since they mentioned that this was going to be our challenge this month, I have been playing with my flat bed scanner. This particular art form is either a trial and tribulation or a complete joy, depending on how you look at it (and how obsessive compulsive you are). I have found that it is imperative that one make preliminary scans, because the placement of the tiniest element of the design can change the whole aspect of the complete image. If I don’t do the “check scan”, I find that I spend far too much time with the full scan (which takes a lot longer) and then I notice something “wrong” and have to do it all over again.
At any rate, I have had a lot of fun with this challenge, and no matter what the outcome, I have discovered a new art form that I thoroughly enjoy. Those of you who have been following this blog know that the scanner art shows up here on a regular basis. After this challenge is over and done with, there will still be occasional scans for your delectation. (At least I hope it is delectable for you.)
Over the course of the summer, I have produced a veritable rainbow of images. Here are a few of the results.
This first one was an attempt to make a floral fireworks display. I never really got this one to look the way I wanted it to. I may try this again sometime; I think it would be more effective with less on the scanner. Any way, this is my “Summer Fireworks Display — Finale”.
Now, the Rainbow of Scans:
The complete rainbow in one scan:
Yesterday I went out and collected blooms, and while I was in the process of doing that I (of course) got distracted by some weeds that had appeared in the middle of a patch of sedums. As I was pulling them out, I found one of my honey bees, which had apparently worked itself to death or stayed out past bedtime and gotten too cold. I also found a plethora of flowers, which I brought inside and played with for a while.
This scan includes variegated ajuga foliage, “Autumn Joy” sedum flowers, purple hyacinth beans, one colchicum blossom, and a couple of sprigs of cuphea. And the honeybee. It is also my entry into the “Picture This” challenge.
For other entries, check out the gallery here.
these are brilliant pictures and i love the designs
Oh those are lovely!
Yipppee! The bee has been imortalized! i love that one!
Definitely delectable. I think the second image and that last one are my two favourites, along with the tall one with the tiny pink flowers trailing off the top. You have a real eye for these. The compositions are beautifully balanced which is tricky, especially with the asymmetrical ones.
I like #6 and #7 best
Hi,
Absolutely beautiful photo’s, I love the flowers around the shell, I haven’t seen that before very nice and unique I feel.
They are gorgeous! I like 7 best.
I like 7 best, too…but they are all lovely.
These pictures are beautiful.
Nice display
stunning, stunning, stunning. What a fab idea! *plots*
Watch out Dolce, this art form is addictive.
Wow… you have got this thing figured out. Any of those beautifully created scans could take the prize. Seriously. Love the one you chose…especially the hyacinth beans… and of course the bee flying… brilliant.
Meems
Terrific scans, it’s clear from them that you do enjoy playing with them. I do feel bad for the bee, but your entry is charming & whimsical.
Bees are pretty ephemeral, really. I was just lucky to notice that one when it was lying in the thyme, cold and stiff, before the ants ate it.
Your scans are breathtaking. You have a great eye for this project.
It helps to be slightly OCD…..
All of your scans turned out really well! You are a pro!!! Enjoyed reading your post and seeing all of your art! Best wishes!
Julie
Thanks. For what it is worth, I thought my scans were very good. Apparently not good enough.
I really like your scans. I can’t decide with one I like best. The one with the shell is like a regular arrangement, then the one with the more vertical sense witht he little stars shooting off the end and the last one really catches my eye. I like the purple hyacinth beans in it. They are all so artfully arranged. I can tell you had fun doing these. You had a lot to work with too. I bet your garden is gorgeous.
I’m rather fond of my garden. Thanks for the compliments.
All your scans are fantastic, but I think I like your third scan from the top even better than the one with the bee.
Maybe I should have entered that one. . . .