A few weekends ago my neighbor and I went to Dart’s Hill Gardens in Surrey. They were having a rare open house, and a photography contest. Any photo submitted had to be taken during the open house, on the grounds of the garden.
We had a lovely time, there were lots of other photographers, ranging from tiny point and shoots, to honking big telephotos, and tripods. Darting through the foliage, wowing at the amazing collection of plants, we took hundreds of shots.
My big finale was a huge spill right in front of the entrance tent as we were leaving. It seemed to take forever in slow motion, falling, tipping, sliding down on the sloping gravel path, landing all 6 feet plus of me completely spread out on the ground.
The only good part of it, was my camera was completely safe the entire time. Go figure, and I still have gravel shards in my palm, but I was fine, this happens occasionally, us tall people have a different centre of balance. Especially when we are not paying attention to where we are walking.
Well, it seems it was a wonderful day all around, except for the spill of course.
I got a email the other night saying that two of my photos had received a honorable mention, and will be on the web site. Congrats to the other three winners, I am looking forward to seeing their shots. It was such a beautiful day, the sun was shining, the foliage was stunning, I think that I might do this again.
We were allowed to submit up to 3 photos, the second and the third photo received the honorable mention.
Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
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Beautiful pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love the fall colors!!!!!!! Great job!
ReplyDeleteAntique Rose
Sorry to hear about your spill, but perhaps it was worth it as you have TWO gorgeous photos on their website. Huge congrats to you! Your shots are deliciously lovely.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your spill.Jen your pictures are all beautiful. The shadows in the first one are so striking.And the second one with the green against the backgrounds of greens I love. I love how sometimes the background colors make such wonderful contrast and make the pictures special.Congrats on the honorable mentions.
ReplyDeleteThey are gorgeous photos Jen. So sorry about the fall. Hope you have a nice week.
ReplyDeleteJen, your photos are splendiferous! as always.
ReplyDeleteYes, we tall ones do have a different balance ... the further up, the harder the fall,it does seem to take FOREVER to hit the ground, doesn't it. So glad you are ok ...
Have a beautiful week ~
TTFN ~Hugs, Marydon
What wonderful pictues. Thanks for sharing the pain of being wonderfully tall. Wee (pun intended) short folks have spills too when not paying attention. Can that mean my center of gravity is in my boobs???? (teehee)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your fall. :( I absolutely love your first shot. The lighting and color are extraordinary!
ReplyDeleteJen girl .. I get that bit about falling ..not a great thing to handle at all .. I used to be tall but I am shrinking and some how .... expanding ... that doesn't seem fair at all to me ?? hehe
ReplyDeleteI love the shots .. I would have loved to be there and given it a try .. photographing .. not falling! wink wink
That is great to get a mention with so many people there !!
Joy : )
Gorgeous photos. Well done.
ReplyDeleteIt happens to us shorties too....Gotta love that gravity.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos. So glad to hear you (and camera) are okay after a fall.
ReplyDeleteGlad your camera was okay, and that you weren't more injured than you were. The photos are exquisite-as always.
ReplyDeleteNice work !
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing what we'll do to get the right shot.
Who the heck are these judges...you should get more than honorable mention.
I am part klutz and understand the falling takes forever part..and I am not as tall as you! I am glad you are ok..and the camera too..the photos are lovely and I can see why they were honorable mentions ( I think they should have won!)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic idea for a photography contest like that - sounds like so much fun! Wonderful photos and very deserving of the honorable mention. So sorry about the spill.
ReplyDeleteThat first one...ah, the rich red, is my absolute favorite!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Us shorties tumble too, we just don't have as far to go before we plant our faces in the dirt. Poor you.
ReplyDeleteA stunning photo for sure. If that is an honourable mention I can't imagine what first place looks like.
Sorry about your spill, glad you and the camera are okie dokie! Love the colors of fall. Congrats on your award!
ReplyDeleteWow, if these are honourable mentions, the winners must have been stunners. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteYour story of the fall reminds me of the time I tried roller blading and shot off the rink and out into the lobby face first on the carpet and had carpet burn all down my face and arms. Charming entrance. :)
Great photos, Jen. I like the shallow depth of field in 2 and the leaf veins in 3. Wish they'd included larger images on the Dart's Hill site to do everyone's photos justice.
ReplyDeletecongratulations on the honorable mention!! Thats awesome! The fall...not so awesome! Sorry you took a tumble
ReplyDeleteThey're all gorgeous! Sorry to hear about your tumble.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to have a sense of humor about spills. Layanee at Ledge and Gardens, another tall girl like you and me, told a funny story about a spill on a vacation in Nepal. You have to read it: http://ledgeandgardens.typepad.com/ledge_and_gardens/2010/01/nepal-phase-iii---adventures-in-pokhara.html
ReplyDeleteI love your images, and the 2nd is my hands-down favorite. Congrats on the honorable mentions.
Love them all, but to me the first is the winner. Stunning! Glad nothing was broken, camera or bones. Love that you're tall, another reason to love you and your posts!
ReplyDeleteThose other photos must be stunnning - I think yours are as gorgeous as always. I wouldn't want to go up against you in a photo contest, that's for sure :-)
ReplyDeleteJen, I am glad you weren't harmed and congrats on the honorable mentions. I've always thought your photos are First Place winners, as VW said the others must have been something else to best yours! gail
ReplyDeleteKudos,Jen. Since first we met, through your gifted eye and take on life, have always been an inspiration to me. Onward and upward, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are the best to me....sorry about your spill and so glad you are okay....focus Jen, focus!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun time despite your fall :) Congrats on the Honourable mentions.
ReplyDeleteI love the second - it's beautiful! you should have won a prize for it, and maybe for the best wipe out in the garden? Really sounds like that should have earned you something!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! You're pictures are always breathtaking!
ReplyDeleteI'm such a klutz. It never fails that I don't fall, run into something, trip or just plain hurt myself.
I am sorry with what happened to you, but the positive attitude with even the pride to post it here really comes from a wise person. And at least you got awards! I can imagine some people saying "this is the photo of the one who slipped". Just joking, hehe. But i salute your disposition. I love that green photo more, how did you do that, can you tell us the setting details. thank you.
ReplyDeleteJen I don't know where to start! Thanks is always a good place. So thank you for visiting my blog and for the wonderful comment. I adore the name of your blog, and it is beautiful. Your photography is wonderful; I love your style. I can certainly see why you received honorable mention. I'm so sorry for your fall, but glad you and your camera are ok. I'm so short, if I fall, at least I don't have far to go, with lots of padding. :) I'm off to explore your posts further and to become a follower. See you again soon!! ♥
ReplyDeleteCongratulations (on the awards and not on the spill)! Spills like yours aren't reserved for just the tall... I've taken many myself... all 5'2" of me. I hate that feeling in slow motion when you know you're going to hit and thinking, "Why is this happening now?" Glad you're okay aside from the gravel in your palms.
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