To continue our previous post with tips from the Gardens in Focus judges, we now look at some technical tips for improving your photographs.

• Get into the garden in the early morning or late afternoon, or after rain when the light is softer.
• Get down close to the ground to see a different perspective.
• Visit the gardens often and plan your shots, and come again when the light is right or the flower beds are in bloom.
• Experiment with lighting. Sometimes in the daytime it is good to use a fill-in flash to reduce the strong contrast. At other times a bright flash will flatten the image.
• Visit some regional gardens to see a new location.
• When taking vistas place some people in the shot to give some interest and sense of scale; even if they are not the main point of focus.
• Use your zoom lens or editing software in a limited way, to crop your photo of distracting elements like a blemished leaf or an unattractive flower, and direct the focus to something of beauty or sensuality.
• Strong lines that extend across a photograph should draw the viewer’s eye into the picture.
• Use the rule of thirds: Imaginary lines that are one third of the picture from either side or the top or bottom, are a picture’s area of interest. Thirds are also good lines for horizons (try to avoid dividing the picture across the middle in either direction).

So, why don't you visit a new botanic garden, take your camera and share your wonderful shots with us. You never know, you may just be one of the big winners!