11/12/17

Photographing Roses

Photographing Roses for ARS Rose Shows: Understanding and Using the 2017 Guidelines and Rules for Judging Rose Photography

Photographing roses is where I got my start in digital photography, beginning in 2004. I’ve gone on to do many different things with photography. However, I have maintained an interest in roses. Because I set out in 2008 to develop guidelines for photography in rose shows, I have been especially gratified to see ARS (American Rose Society) Guidelines and Rules for Judging Rose Photography approved by the Board of Directors in September 2017. My work was first presented to the ARS in 2010, in that year’s Rose Annual.

While this 2017 endpoint required a winding, rocky path, I want to make using the Guidelines as easy as possible for exhibitors and judges in our shows. Therefore, I have prepared PowerPoint presentations for exhibitors, judges, and others. I have posted them here, where I will probably leave them until the new ARS Photography Committee to be appointed in 2018 makes significant changes to the Guidelines.

To view in full screen mode, click on the icon at the lower right corner of the presentation.

Finally, rose photography should be fun. The ARS Photography Chairman or your District Chairman of Photography will be happy to help you navigate the Guidelines.

09/26/17
rose photography

ARS Photography Challenge Class

ARS Photography Challenge Class, the First

ARS Photography Challenge Class: The Board of Directors approved this Challenge Class at the Fall 2017 National Conference and Show in Gettysburg. In addition, this was the same meeting at which they approved the final Guidelines and Rules for Judging Rose Photography.

ARS photography challenge class

Nat’l Challenge Class

The Challenge calls for three separate images, all mounted and matted per ARS guidelines. In addition, they are to show Cycle of Bloom for either miniature or miniflora roses. Look for this Challenge Class at the 2018 Spring Miniature and Miniflora National Conference and Show, Jacksonville, FL, May 4-6. The Penn-Jersey District sponsors this award.

In conclusion, this is one more exciting development in Rose Photography at the ARS level. Have fun planning your entries, whether for 2018 or subsequent years.

09/12/17
rose photography 2017

ARS Rose Photography 2017

rose photography 2017

Mark Twain: “The reports of my death were greatly exaggerated…”

ARS Rose Photography 2017, September 12, 2017

Board Approval of the First Edition

ARS Rose Photography 2017: this has been a long, rocky, and sometimes painful journey, beginning in 2008. But, on September 7, 2017 the Board of Directors of the American Rose Society (ARS) approved the First Edition of the ARS Rules and Guidelines for Judging Rose Photography. The ARS will be posting this edition shortly on its website, under Member Resources. Especially relevant, this officially recognizes Photography of Roses as a valid and valued component of rose shows sanctioned by the ARS. Because this was a goal toward which I began working in 2008, its achievement is gratifying.

These ARS Rose Photography 2017 PowerPoint Presentations, of which there will be more over time, demonstrate use of the Guidelines. Anyone working to implement and explain the now-official guidelines for rose photography in our ARS shows may use them. The guidelines apply to all levels – local, district, and national – of shows planning to give ARS awards to winners.

History

In 2004 I purchased my first compact digital to take along to rose shows I judged (as ARS Accredited Horticulture and Arrangement Judge). It died in 2008 after an active, useful life. I purchased a second compact digital. When I realized how serious I was about this, I enrolled in and completed an entire two-year Digital Photography program at UNM CE. Most of all, because I wanted to bring credibility to photography in the ARS, I did not want to be “shooting from the hip.” As a result, in 2009 I became the first Pacific Southwest District (PSWD) Photography Chairman, actually the first anywhere in the ARS. Those “early days,” along with my hopes for photography within the ARS, are discussed in the 2010 ARS Rose Annual.

In 2012 the American Rose Society appointed its first Photography Committee, with Curtis Aumiller as Chair. He, along with members Tom Mayhew, Bill Kozemchak, and Bruce Monroe are from the Penn-Jersey District. I am the sole committee member from the Pacific Southwest District. And, that committee has continued work since 2012, with ARS President Pat Shanley keeping the committee intact in 2015. She has strongly encouraged guidelines that will help members with all levels of experience in both photography and roses participate in rose photography in our ARS shows, as well as the Digital Photography and ARS Calendar contests. Photography guidelines, like all guidelines, will continue to evolve over time. But I am confident that Bob Martin’s administration, beginning in 2018, will also support rose photography in ARS shows.

For me, personally, the Board approval of these Guidelines is the culmination of nine years of working toward this goal, which, like anything worth doing, was not always easy. I learned a lot about people. I had a lot of fun learning more about photographing roses. I’m pretty sure not too many people are going to read the Guidelines for fun. It is a useful and necessary reference guide. But I want to share some of the fun I have had visually with photography and roses in the past nine years. These six PowerPoint Presentations are the start of a library of such presentations by me and others, and more will be posted over time.

This post, which will eventually scroll off the front page, has also been posted as its own page Under “Rose Photography.”

ARS Rose Photography 2017 PowerPoint Presentations

You may view the PowerPoints here on this site as small videos. For a larger view, click on the Screen button on the lower right hand corner of each video. For educational purposes and with a credit line, “Susan Brandt Graham,” you may download the PowerPoints and share and/or post them elsewhere.

CREATIVE INTERPRETATION

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS

SHRUBS, OLD GARDEN ROSES, ETC.

ROSE SPRAYS

FULLY OPEN, STAMENS SHOWING

HOW TO MOUNT AND MAT AN 8X10 PHOTO

07/17/17
photographing roses

ARS Photo Competitions, Creative Interpretation

This entry is part 2 of 5 in the series Rose Photography

ARS Photo Competitions, Creative Interpretation

ARS photo competitions, creative interpretation: the American Rose Society Board gave temporary approval for Guidelines for Judging Rose Photography in 2015. The Board approved a revision in 2016. This PowerPoint is one of several I will be posting here over the next few months to give our members examples of images I have created of the various Classes following the Guidelines. I would like to encourage interested rosarians to photograph roses, including creating some “rose art” images, and enter them in ARS shows, including local, district, and national shows; the ARS Digital Photography competition; and the ARS Calendar competitions.

Views presented here are my own, but I believe the images conform to the current Guidelines. Photography in the ARS is a work in progress, so do not be surprised if over time the Guidelines change. The current Guidelines should be applicable at least through the 2018 ARS National Convention and Rose Show.

ARS photo competitions, creative interpretation

Rose ‘Gold Medal’ with Hair Streak Butterfly. Winner of the Judges Class, 2015 ARS American Rose Photography Competition.

Logged in users at this site may download and share (including posting on websites) the PowerPoint for use for educational purposes, as long as a credit line is given. I have also posted this PowerPoint in the dedicated page for such presentations. This PowerPoint is sized for web and digital device presentation. Please note that this may be viewed in Full Screen mode by clicking on the icon at the lower right corner of the presentation. If anyone needs a higher resolution file, please contact me through the Contact page.

Finally, the American Rose Society has more information about many aspects of roses at their website.

07/16/17
floral arrangement photography

ARS Photo Competitions, Floral Arrangements

This entry is part 3 of 5 in the series Rose Photography

ARS Photo Competitions, Floral Arrangements

ARS photo competitions, floral arrangements: the American Rose Society Board gave temporary approval for Guidelines for Judging Rose Photography in 2015. The Board approved a revision in 2016. This PowerPoint is one of several I will be posting here over the next few months to give our members examples of images I have created of the various Classes following the Guidelines. I would like to encourage interested rosarians to photograph roses, including floral arrangements, and enter them in ARS shows, including local, district, and national shows; the ARS Digital Photography competition; and the ARS Calendar competitions.

Views presented here are my own, but I believe the images conform to the current Guidelines. Photography in the ARS is a work in progress, so do not be surprised if over time the Guidelines change. The current Guidelines should be applicable at least through the 2018 ARS National Convention and Rose Show.

ARS photo competitions, floral arrangements

Traditional Mass Design by Debi Harrington

Logged in users at this site may download and share (including posting on websites) the PowerPoint for use for educational purposes, as long as a credit line is given. I have also posted this PowerPoint in the dedicated page for such presentations. This PowerPoint is sized for web and digital device presentation. If anyone needs a higher resolution file, please contact me through the Contact page.

Finally, the American Rose Society has more information about many aspects of roses at their website.

07/14/17
rose photography

ARS Photo Competitions, Rose Sprays

This entry is part 4 of 5 in the series Rose Photography

ARS Photo Competitions, Rose Sprays

ARS photo competitions, rose sprays: the American Rose Society Board gave temporary approval for Guidelines for Judging Rose Photography in 2015. The Board approved a revision in 2016. This PowerPoint is one of several I will be posting here over the next few months to give our members examples of images of the various Classes I have created following the Guidelines. I would like to encourage interested rosarians to photograph roses and enter them in ARS shows, including local, district, and national shows; the ARS Digital Photography competition; and the ARS Calendar competitions.

Views presented here are my own, but I believe the images conform to the current Guidelines. Photography in the ARS is a work in progress, so do not be surprised if over time the Guidelines change. The current Guidelines should be applicable at least through the 2018 ARS National Convention and Rose Show.

ARS photo competitions, rose sprays

Mounted and Matted Spray of ‘Dreamweaver’

Logged in users at this site may download and share (including posting on websites) the PowerPoint for use for educational purposes, as long as a credit line is given. I have also posted this PowerPoint in the dedicated page for such presentations.

Finally, the American Rose Society has more information about many aspects of roses at their website.

07/14/17
ARS photo competitions

ARS Photo Competitions: Fully Open Roses

ARS Photo Competitions: Fully Open Roses

ARS photo competitions continue to grow in many parts of the country. The American Rose Society Board gave temporary approval for Guidelines for Judging Rose Photography in 2015. The Board approved a revision in 2016. This PowerPoint is one of several I will be posting here over the next few months to give our members examples of images of the various Classes I have created following the Guidelines. I would like to encourage interested rosarians to photograph roses and enter them in ARS shows, including local, district, and national shows; the ARS Digital Photography competition; and the ARS Calendar competitions.

Views presented here are my own, but I believe the images conform to the current Guidelines. Photography in the ARS is a work in progress, so do not be surprised if over time the Guidelines change. The current Guidelines should be applicable at least through the 2018 ARS National Convention and Rose Show.

ARS photo competitions rose photography

Miniature rose, ‘Child’s Play,’ fully open, stamens showing
Blue Ribbon and Best of Section, Fully Open Roses, 2014 ARS Fall National Rose Show and Convention

Logged in users at this site may download and share (including posting on websites) the PowerPoint for use for educational purposes, as long as a credit line is given. I have also posted this PowerPoint in the dedicated page for such presentations.

Finally, the American Rose Society has more information about many aspects of roses at their website.

07/7/17
ARS photo competitions

New PowerPoint Presentation

This entry is part 5 of 5 in the series Rose Photography

New PowerPoint Presentation: How to Mount and Mat an 8×10 Photo for an ARS Rose Show

This new PowerPoint presentation is actually an updated version of one I did last year. At the time, I posted it as a pdf file and also as a Kindle at Amazon. However, I have reworked it into a smaller file that can be posted as a PowerPoint presentation on this blog. You may download and repost this PowerPoint, as long as you give a credit line.

This guide for mounting and matting an image applies only to photographs for exhibition in rose shows. These typically last only one or two days, and exhibitors then take the photographs home. They generally are not for sale. The photographs at a rose show are for short-term display, and the suggestions here reflect that. The suggestions here are not suggestions for how to mount and mat photographs in general, or for any purpose other than display in rose shows, and then only those whose schedules call for the photograph to be mounted and matted with outside dimensions of 11×14 inches.

I hope my rose friends find it useful.

I have added a new page to this blog, Rose Photography Presentations, with two sub-pages. One will contain more PowerPoint presentations as I complete them. The other contains images, handouts, and two of the PowerPoints from the summing up Photography Judging Seminar held in 2012. I keep it here as an archive of the birth of photography in the PSWD.

05/28/17
Susan Brandt Graham

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!

2017 Photography Judge Award Susan Brandt Graham Photography: Spring 2017 Roses &emdash;

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

03/13/17
rose photography

Rose Photography in the ARS

Rose Photography in the American Rose Society: Results of the 2016 ARS Digital Photography Contest

Rose photography in the American Rose Society has a growing interest, no pun intended. 🙂 The American Rose Magazine has had a photography contest for some time. In recent years, the contest has become a digital competition. Online entry is easy, and mailed CD’s, DVD’s, and thumb drives are also accepted. Yesterday, March 12, the ARS used online methods to announce the winners of the 2016 competition. Not only was it fun, but all of the winners could be shown. While the top winners will appear in the American Rose Magazine, print space does not allow for the showing of all winners.

I was very happy to win the Judges Class with ‘Hot Cocoa,’a floribunda rose grown by my mother and photographed by me. ‘Hot Cocoa’ is a russet rose, and russet is always a challenge to photograph!

rose photography

Floribunda Rose ‘Hot Cocoa.’ Winner of the Judges Class, 2016 American Rose Society Digital Photography Contest

A very big winner in the regular classes is the fourth, and newly appointed, PSWD Photography Chair, Juanita Ortega. I remember when Juanita was just beginning rose photography. She won awards with gorgeous images taken with a point-and-shoot camera and no editing software. (I also remember when she was just beginning in Arrangements.) She brings knowledge, dignity, and commitment to PSWD photography, and the PSWD is lucky to have her. Yesterday I lost track of all of her awards, but you can see all of them in this YouTube video, along with all of the other winners. A brief introduction is followed by all of the winners in all of the classes. Enjoy!

The rules for the 2017 ARS Digital Photography Contest have already been posted. Think about entering.

Rose show season is rapidly approaching, and the emphasis will move to rose photography in print form. Some people say entering a print is too expensive, referring to having it mounted and matted somewhere. Last year I prepared a short “how-to”in Kindle form. I show not only how to do it easily, but also how to do it inexpensively. More than that, this method eliminates all the “waves” frequently seen in some of the images in our rose shows.

The American Rose Society now offers a variety of options and settings for sharing your rose images.