05/28/17

2017 PSWD Photography Judge Award

2017 Pacific Southwest District Outstanding Rose Photography Judge Award

The 2017 PSWD Outstanding Rose Photography Judge Award was a huge, but welcome, surprise to me. With many thanks to all of the people responsible for this honor!

I began work in the PSWD in 2008 to develop guidelines for judging rose photographs in our rose shows. I was already an ARS Accredited Horticulture and Arrangements Judge. But because I did not want to feel I was “shooting from the hip” in working for rose photographs in rose shows, I did UNM CE’s entire program in Digital Photography. I wanted to feel and to be competent for the task I set for myself. In 2012, the ARS recognized rose photography and set up a new committee to work on guidelines. It has been an honor to work with that national committee to establish working guidelines at the national level. It has been gratifying to see much of my work from the PSWD level incorporated into the guidelines at the national level.

The citation was read by Juanita Ortega, current Chair of Photography for the PSWD, at the District Convention, April 22, 2017:

The recipient of this award is an American Rose Society Accredited Horticulture and/or Arrangement Judge who has advanced the exhibition of rose photographs at local and district rose shows in the Pacific Southwest District. By encouraging rosarians to photograph their roses, our societies have attracted more members and contributed to the enjoyment of our national flower by the public.

This year, we recognize the efforts of one of the founders of this newest division of American Rose Society Rose Shows. For many years, she organized seminars and classes to teach interested ARS members the basics of photographing and displaying roses. She organized Rose Photography Divisions at national, district and local rose shows. This Photography Judge served on the American Rose Society Photography Guidelines Committee from 2012 through 2015.

The 2017 Pacific Southwest District Outstanding Rose Photography Judge Award is presented to Dr. Susan Brandt Graham from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Many thanks, Juanita, to you and the photographers of the PSWD. ~ Susan

09/13/16

Old Photos

Going back through old photos can be a bit of a challenge and also an interesting reminder of what once was. These images were made with the first digital camera I owned, a Nikon Coolpix 4300. Everything was on Automatic, including the flash. 🙂 That camera died after years of good use, and shortly after these images were made. I had purchased it for the sole purpose of photographing roses I judged at rose shows.

This slide show is made of images taken in June, 2008 at an ARS Rose Judging Seminar in Palm Springs, California. A lot of the same people are around today, but the overall atmosphere, goals, principles, and values of the District where this was held are palpably different.

If you prefer looking at individual images rather than a slide show, the Gallery is here.

This post will ultimately scroll off the front page, so I have also posted the video on the “People” page of this website.

02/1/15

Rose Calendars

Rose Calendars for 2015

Rose calendars for 2015 are available from both the American Rose Society and the Albuquerque Rose Society. The two have different images, and both are beautiful.

The images in the 2015 Albuquerque Rose Calendar were the winners at the 2014 Spring Rose Show. I am pleased that five of the twelve images were my winners in that show, including “Best of Show.”

Best of Show – Gemini – from the class “Rose Art”

Best of Theme – The Artistic Rose – Distant Drums

Best of Black and White Challenge – Leonidas

Best of Section – The Rose – Gemini

Best in Class – Rose Sprays – Dream Weaver

For my friends in the Albuquerque area, I recently found out that the calendars are available in a variety of places:

The Garden Shop, Albuquerque Garden Center

Bookworks

Figments Tea Shoppe

Jackalope Pottery

Jericho Nursery

Osuna Nursery

Given that one month of 2015 has already passed, I don’t know if a discount is being given on the calendars, but it never hurts to ask!

The wall calendar is priced at $10.00, and a smaller perpetual calendar is priced at $5.00. All proceeds go to the Albuquerque Rose Society.

06/3/13

Rose Arrangements from the 2013 Albuquerque Rose Show

Arrangements from the 2013 Albuquerque Rose Show, June 1, 2013

Debi Harrington – Best in Show

Roses ‘Candy Cane,’ ‘Golden Showers,’ ‘Moondance,’ ‘Gourmet Popcorn’
ARS Royalty Award, plus Best in Show in Arrangements

Roses: ‘Candy Cane,’ ‘Golden Showers,’ ‘Moondance,’ ‘Gourmet Popcorn’

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Lauren Toth
Roses ‘Candy Cane’
ARS Duke Award

Roses ‘Candy Cane’

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Pat Jeremia
Roses ‘Wild Blue Yonder’
ARS Princess Award

Roses ‘Wild Blue Yonder’

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Pat Jeremia
Roses ‘Julia Child’
A Modern Arrangement

Roses ‘Julia Child’

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Juanita Ortega
Roses ‘Fragrant Cloud’
ARS Artist Award
(This is a Transparency)

Roses ‘Fragrant Cloud’

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Juanita Ortega
Rose ‘Fragrant Cloud’
ARS Oriental Award

Roses ‘Fragrant Cloud’

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Shirley Tetrault
Roses ‘Tropicana’
A Modern Arrangement, specifically a Transparency

Rose ‘Tropicana’

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Shirley Tetrault
Roses ‘Double Delight’
A Modern Arrangement

Roses ‘Double Delight’

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The rose arrangements in the 2013 Albuquerque Rose Show exhibited a remarkable range of creativity. Beyond that, the growing season had not been particularly good this spring, and the timing for the show was also not particularly good. That these and the other arrangers could put together these designs is a tribute to their skill and creativity.

On the Rose Arrangement page are images of arrangements at various shows in the Pacific Southwest District in the 2004-2007 time frame.

06/24/12

Rose Photography in the PSWD

One of the things that has taken my time away from this blog was my work in creating and then serving as the first Chair of the Pacific Southwest District of the ARS Rose Photography Committee, from its creation into 2012. I have been photographing roses and teaching about photographing roses. I also maintained a website, blog, and forum for rose photography in the Pacific Southwest District, which took my time away from this blog.

It has been very exciting to see the addition of Photography as a separate division in some of our rose shows. Watching its spread throughout the PSWD shows has been equally exciting. Partially in response to this work, the American Rose Society created a Rose Photography Committee in August of 2011. I am one of the initial members, and I’ll continue my work with rose photography through that committee. The website, blog, and forum for PSWD Photography are being removed, so that there is not conflict as the ARS Committee gets down to work.

The history of the work in the PSWD from 2008-2012, and the Rose Photography Guidelines produced are here:

History of Rose Photography in the PSWD, 2008-2012

PSWD Photography Guidelines as of June, 2012

Spray of hybrid tea rose, ‘Gemini’

07/29/09

2009 Palm Springs International Rose Photography Show

The Desert Rose Society of the Palm Springs, California, area is sponsoring a very exciting rose photography show this coming November. Judging will take place on the evening of November 12, and the show will be open to the public on November 13 and 14.

Entries are invited from around the world, and entrants do not have to be members of any rose society. In other words, it is open to anyone, anywhere, who likes both roses and photography. The entry fee is $20.00 US.

The complete schedule is here, along with rules, registration form, etc.

Note that entries may be mailed in, with a deadline for receipt of two weeks before the show. Prints may also be entered, with prior reservations, on the morning of November 12. Entered prints will become the property of the Desert Rose Society and will not be returned, but the photographer otherwise retains full rights in the submitted photos.

The rose photography show will be held at the same time as the American Rose Society Fall Convention and Rose Show, also sponsored by the Desert Rose Society. Complete information about that can be found at www.desertrosesociety.com

07/10/09

Palm Springs International Rose Photography Show at the 2009 ARS Fall Convention

At the 2009 Fall Convention of the American Rose Society, there will be a separate Photography Show.

Details and a final Photography Schedule are not yet available (7/10/2009), but a link will be posted here as soon as those are available on the official website of the convention.

The Rose Photography Show will open for public viewing at 9:00 am local time on Friday, November 13, and again on Saturday, November 14 at the same time. Each day the Show will be open until 5:00 pm.

Watch for updates, and plan to enter your rose photographs.

07/10/09

Judging of Photographs at the 2009 ARS Fall Convention and Palm Springs International Rose Photography Show

Judging will take place on the evening of Thursday, November 12, 2009, starting with the Judges’ Meeting at 5:00 pm. The judging will last until all entries have been judged and the results recorded.