Garden Photography and Composition with Context
​Article written by Ruth Ball and Cindy Poulin, IACC Members

Paul Swanson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, which gives him the artistic as well as the technical aspects of photography. Besides being the staff photographer at the University of Alberta (U of A) Devonian Gardens, Paul does editorial and commercial work. At the Gardens, he set up the popular Photographers’ Mornings, held the third Saturday of June and July. He also conducts an “After Hours” photography session at the end of June so that other photographers can see the U of A Gardens at a time when people aren’t usually present.

Regardless of which genre he is photographing – fashion, industrial, foods, action or portraiture – each potential photograph presents a different problem and a different circumstance which, as a photographer, he has to address. When in the garden, he tends to “pull back” to get an image that fills a multiplicity of situations. There are two reasons for this; 1) he knows that in Garden brochures the text will be superimposed over the image; and 2) he wants the photo to draw viewers in so that they are able to visualize themselves in that place.

Paul especially likes to take “texture” photos, frames filled with multiple layers of what he sees. His landscape photos let people know the context in which they’ll experience the gardens. Occasionally, he finds it necessary to shoot a single flower, but still he tries to personify it in some way. He includes the leaves, looking at the whole plant. Most of the time he likes a soft background unless he needs to show depth.
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Context is not only important when photographing at the U of A Gardens, but also when shooting in the other jobs that he has. For example, in his photo of a BMX rider in mid-jump he explained why he did not crop away certain aspects of the shot (e.g., the brick building). Simply put, he likes to fill his photos with “stuff” for the viewers to look at so that they can see the subject in all of its context.

One very important idea to take away from his talk? Always have your camera with you and a ready eye so as to produce an enticing photo which will bring viewers in to see the image that you saw. 

© Paul Swanson

​Thank you to Paul for joining us and for providing us with insights into his world of photography.

​Website: http://www.paulswanson.me/