Comments on: Back-Light and Grasses

By: healingmagichands

healingmagichands — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:16:07 +0000

I have been in love with grasses for decades, which probably explains my Petite Prairie planting. I have been trying so hard to capture the magical “thing” grass does in the evening sun, and I really appreciate all the pointers and tips you give in this post. Maybe someday I can actually achieve the picture of switchgrass that so far has only appeared in my mind’s eye!

Thanks so much for a lovely post, the photography is spectacular. And I am very envious of your opportunity to sit in the meadows and watch the light work them. All too often we just don’t have the time in this modern bustle to sit bathed in light and beauty. Surely there are bugs and pollen and damp, but you are a blessed person, Saxon, to have had so many such experiences. I’m sure you know it. Happy Solstice!

Your comments are humbling. Thank you kindly. I am indeed blessed and do appreciate the gifts I have received. I try to pass them along. – Saxon

from Mary Oliver The Swan “…. the path to heaven does not lie down in flat miles. It’s in the imagination with which you perceive this world, and the gestures with which you honor it.”

By: Debra Lee Baldwin

Debra Lee Baldwin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:39:47 +0000

I really think there’s nothing lovelier than backlit grasses. A nursery owner once mentioned to me that the upright tassles of a grass in bloom reminded him of champagne bubbles. Oh, yes!

Debra Lee – I’m gonna steal that champagne reference for myself. Thanks … – Saxon

By: thistleandthorn

thistleandthorn — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:27:33 +0000

Saxon, I am, as usual, a little late in commenting on a blog post, but thank you so much for all you do to educate us. I have tried and tried to capture the light in grasses, but... I am enamored by the wild 'ditch weeds' that grow along this part of the gulf coast, and especially the grasses, rushes, and sedges. You really should visit Wakulla County in Florida sometime and check this out for yourself. In some of the photos it looks like there might be a black backdrop to get such a vivid contrast. At least, that's what I've been thinking of trying. Thanks again. When I considered where to spend the travel budget for The American Meadow Garden, my co-author John Greenlee and I really wanted to include Florida and the Gulf Coast to see different ecosystems. I hope to get downyour way someday. Unlike the photo lessen where I did use a black back drop all of the dark areas in the back light series are created by the dramatic difference of the exposure range from bright subjects in front of shadowed areas. - Saxon

By: Scott Calhoun

Scott Calhoun — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:58:18 +0000

Saxon, thanks for highlighting (or should I say backlighting?) some great native grasses like blue grama, little bluestem, and Sporobolus. Even here in blast furnace Tucson, they thrive and have become staples in my design biz.

By: Christine B.

Christine B. — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:26:37 +0000

Your photos for the Grasses book (congrats on a 10th printing) were amazing. They were instrumental in getting me hooked on ornamental grasses in the first place. I took your book with me when I gave a presentation on the subject to the master gardeners here in Alaska and told them something like, no one who looks through this book can call grasses boring or unlovely. I frequently go back to the book in winter, daydreaming over the wonderful photos.

Thanks!

Christine B.

Thank YOU Christine – this is a true fan letter, knowing that my work is not only appreciated but influenced people to use the information that the writers attach to my photos. – Saxon

By: Mark Sheehan

Mark Sheehan — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:41:00 +0000

Ditto the appreciation of the photos and I second the identification of the seeds in the next-to-last photo as a milkweed or kin (Asclepias).

Mark – Thanks for checking in. I gotta get better at recognizing when the labels in Botanic Gardens apply to plants other than the one I am photographing …. – Saxon

By: Jean at Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog

Jean at Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:33:23 +0000

I absolutely love photos of grasses and as usual, yours are superb. Fall seems to be the best time in my garden for backlit grasses but there are always too many leaves still on the trees to do it right. Eventually I’ll get grasses in just the right places for some photos! My sister drew my name for Christmas gift giving and I suggested the meadow book to her.

Thanks Jean. Fall is great for backlight and grasses not just because the flowering grasses are so dramatic, but the sun is low giving the photographer a better opportunity to “see” good situations. – Saxon

P:S order the autographed book from me on my website for free shipping .…

By: Town Mouse

Town Mouse — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:51:01 +0000

Amazing! Thanks so much. Maybe for my Christmas break, I’ll finally take some time experimenting with all the techniques you’ve written about!

Thanks for commenting mouse. Experimenting is the very best way to learn. – Saxon

By: Anni Jensen

Anni Jensen — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:56:51 +0000

Saw this on Christi’s Facebook page. Very enjoyable!
Just one note: a picture of an Asclepias seems to have replaced the one of Schyzachyrium scoparium
(“Seeds of Schyzachyrium scoparium Little bluestem”)
Anni Jensen

Anni – so cool you checked out the post. And if YOU think there is a misidentification I gotta defer to you (For those who don’t know, Anni Jensen is the seed expert and propagator at Annies Annuals Nursery – owned by Anni Hayes). No one at Denver Botanic Garden caught this. I do not recognize this seed other than the label in the ground in the botanic garden bed of grasses. If the seeds are actually an Asclepias then it had crept in during the season and no one worried about a misidentification when it was in bloom amongst the grasses. Thanks – Saxon

By: Christi C.

Christi C. — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:09:11 +0000

I really enjoyed this blog post – thank you so much for all this good information, especially the tips behind the photo-making. My newest purchase is the ‘The American Meadow Garden’ and it is chock full of inspiration. I’ve just started work on a meadow garden area near our pond so this book couldn’t have come at a better time.

Hope it’s ok – went ahead and posted a link to this blog post over on my F’book page…you might get a little bit of traffic here :>]]

Thanks again!

Thanks for buying my book Christi. And yeah, spread it around, y’ never know who might see it… OMG Anni Jensen just checked in (next comment) …. Saxon