My best pictures from a recent photography workshop at the Ruth Bancroft Garden

Last Saturday I took my first-ever photography workshop at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. I would have missed it if Kathy Stoner of GardenBook hadn’t brought it to my attention—thank you, Kathy.

The workshop was billed for beginners, and while after 30+ years of taking photos I’m not exactly a novice, I thought it would be great to have early access to the garden (8 a.m.) in order to take advantage of the best light.

And the light was sweet indeed! The silk floss tree (Ceiba speciosa) near the back fence, one of the garden’s signature trees and in full flower right now, was spectacular backlit by the morning sun.

I think this might be the most beautiful photo I’ve ever taken at the Ruth Bancroft Garden:

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Agave ‘Mr Ripple’ and silk floss tree (Ceiba speciosa)

Since this post is about photography, I’ll keep my commentary to a minimum and let my pictures do the talking.

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Silk floss tree (Ceiba speciosa)

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Silk floss tree (Ceiba speciosa) and opuntia

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Silk floss tree flower (Ceiba speciosa)

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Calliandra ‘Sierra Starr’

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Yucca ‘Bright Star’ and Agave ovatifolia

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Agave flower stalk and Yucca rigida

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Opuntia leucotricha

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Cleistocactus hyalacanthus seen through Dasylirion sp.

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Cleistocactus hyalacanthus

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Cleistocactus hyalacanthus with ×Mangave ‘Espresso’

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×Mangave ‘Espresso’ (a variegated sport of ×Mangave ‘Macho Mocha’)

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Oreocereus sp.

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Opuntia sp.

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Harrisia pomanensis, one of several cactus species whose fruit is referred to as “dragon fruit”

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Opuntia sp.

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Euphorbia echinus

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Euphorbia sp.

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Euphorbia sp.

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Encephalartos sp.

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Xanthorrhoea nana

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Agave parrasana

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Agave colorata × bovicornuta

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Agave attenuata

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Buckwheat (Eriogonum sp.)

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Possibly cardon (Pachycereus pringlei)

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Agave franzosinii

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Agave franzosinii

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Agave bovicornuta

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Agave stricta

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Agave victoria-reginae

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Agave horrida

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Agave horrida

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Agave guadalajarana

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Agave gypsophila and Echeveria ‘Lace’

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Echeveria ‘Lace’

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Echeveria shaviana (right)

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Leucadendron ‘Ebony’

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Leucadendron ‘Ebony’

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Palo blanco (Mariosousa willardiana)

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Palm fruit

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Calliandra ‘Sierra Starr’

The workshop was led by Bay Area fine-art photographer John Ricca, assisted by Charlotte Gibb. After a brief introduction we were set loose and could wander the garden at our leisure. John and Charlotte were available anytime for questions. This format worked great because everybody who needed it received personalized instruction.

According to RBG event coordinator Alice Kitajima there will be similar photography workshops in the future so sign up for the RBG’s newsletter on their home page. For members the workshop was free (awesome benefit!), for the general public is was $25.

Comments

  1. Beautiful photos! I enjoyed looking at them all.

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  2. Exquisite. Every single one of them. Maybe YOU should teach the class?

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  3. Some really excellent shots here Gerhard! So did you participate in the class at all, or just roam around on your own?

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    1. I walked around on my own and then ended up talking to Ryan, the RBG horticulturist, about all kinds of topics that had nothing to do with the workshop (like cycad poaching). Ryan is one of my favorite peeps at the RBG and I learn something new everytime I chat with him.

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  4. That must have been fun! The light looks like it was wonderful. Great photos, as always.

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    1. The light at 8 am was so different from the light at 10 am. I could hardly believe it!

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  5. As if its not enough that you get to visit the garden to get free events like that. Great photos as well.

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    1. I felt so lucky to be there. I truly treasured the experience.

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  6. Um um um ... what wonderfully composed photos of gorgeous plants!

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    1. Thanks!!! I hope you'll get a chance to visit the RBG some time.

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  7. You caught the light beautifully! I noted that the Yucca 'Bright Star' you photographed has its leaves interlocked at the top just like one of mine - I've hadn't noticed that with any of my yuccas until last month and have wondered if it's a precursor to a bloom.

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    1. I could well be! I'll check this particular specimen the next time I'm there.

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  8. Wow, these are just magic. I wondered the same thing that Alan asked. Was the class at all beneficial to you, or was it just about the timing?

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    1. Funny coincidence: Before the workshop I had decided to primarily use a telephoto lens (something I don't do often enough). And that's exactly what John Ricca, the instructor, advised us to do in his introduction. I felt good about my decision!

      Other than that, I mostly did my own thing, occasionally chatting with Kathy to see what she was doing.

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