This year I returned to Swan Island Dahlias for a special workshop. The owners welcomed me and my group with open arms and treated us like royalty. With special permission we were able to photograph at the farm without restriction. They even allowed us in their giant root cellar when temperatures were high so that we could photograph buckets and buckets of cut dahlias in a cool setting. The lighting was LED not fluorescent so that helped too!
During the workshop we did an image review daily and clients shared their favorites from the International Test Rose Garden, sunflower field (we had a bonus— giant sunflower field to photograph) and the dahlia farm. Sharing images is one of the best ways to get some inspiration and insight during the trip. Clients not only learn from me, but they also learn from each other; it’s my favorite part of every trip.
The group was a joy to work with; every person was enthusiastic and kind. On the trip there was a combination of new and familiar faces. Donna Bourdon and Harold Klein both helped me in the field and I appreciated their generous contribution to the success of the workshop.
In addition, Donna assisted me as I gave three informative photo walks for the festival, and we met folks from near and far that came out to see us and the dahlias. Overall, it was my best Swan Island trip to date! I am already planning on a return visit in the near future.
Below is a collection of some of my favorites. I have more to come. I might even get around to naming these since I took a catalog with all the names from Swan Island.
All images were captured with my Olympus OM-1 Mark II Mirrorless Camera and Olympus 12-40mm lens. I meant to bring my Voigtlander 17.5mm f0.95 Nokton Micro Four Thirds Lens to do some super close up, soft work, but took the wrong lens by mistake. I was still able to capture most of what I wanted by using manual focus and getting in tight.
One of my favorites
Another favorite
In-camera multiple exposure overlay —soft/sharp
2 image multiple exposure done in-camera by turning the camera slightly for the second image.
My first bumble bee on a dahlia. Not sure 100% of the type of bumble bee and would appreciate a positive ID.
I call this shallow depth of field image “Candy Corn”
From the rose garden
From our shoot at the sunflower field
In-camera shake blur @ 1/4 sec.
The dahlia farm allowed us to cut the flower heads off in their root cellar!!
A special thank you to Heather and Brendon for making our time at Swan Island Dahlia Farm so special. Their dahlia festival runs through September 28th and is held yearly at the farm. For more information visit their site at Swan Island Dahlias.
*The hand painted mural at the top of the page was painted by Karen Eland.