From Garden to Studio: Winter Seed Heads
I find winter a challenging time for outdoor photography. It’s true that the low, soft light in early winter can be stunning, and when it snows the landscape looks magical. But I find it hard to motivate myself when it’s cold and dark outside.
In search of a suitable project, I decided to photograph seed heads from my garden. I chose seed heads because close inspection changes how they appear: from a distance they look like dead foliage, but up close they show structure, detail, and variation that is easy to overlook.
I made the first set of images in the garden. All the photographs were taken handheld, with the plants left exactly where they were growing. Rather than moving the subject, I adjusted my own position, sometimes by only a few centimetres, to control what appeared in the background. Low light levels, a stiff breeze and my desire to work quickly meant I needed to use faster shutter speeds, which in turn required wider apertures. This made the background soft and indistinct, and I think this helps draws attention to the subject. When I later reviewed the images, I felt they worked better as a set when converted to black and white.
I made the second set in my home studio. I photographed the seed heads against a black background using studio flash, again to help draw attention to the subject. I didn't need to worry about wind, changing ambient light levels and the background clutter. Now I had control over light direction. I chose to use backlighting to reveal the delicate structure of the seed heads. Under studio lights, the colour of the seed heads stood out more so I kept these images in colour.
Comparing the two approaches
I thought both approaches produced interesting results. The shallow depth of field in the garden images creates intimacy and makes the images feel contemplative. The studio lights turn something prosaic, that I usually ignore, into something visually engaging.
This project helped me accept a seasonal preference rather than fight it. I find that winter makes sustained outdoor work hard, and the studio offers a way to keep taking photographs without waiting for the weather or light to cooperate. By moving the seed heads indoors, I could take my time with lighting and composition without turning it into an endurance exercise.
