It’s fun to finally get back to taking some pictures!
Butchart Gardens just outside of Victoria, BC is a glorious place to bring a camera. An explosion of color awaits as bed after bed overflows with tulips, daffodils, rododendrum, and so many more I can’t begin to know.
Especially fun was a first try at HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography which combines several exposures of the same scene shot at different shutter speed to enhance detail across a wide range from brightest highlights to deepest shadows. Seeing details simultaneously in the flowers, the reflections on the water, the large evergreen trees and the distant sky was quite an “aha!” moment for me.
I hope you enjoy the entire album which is listed as 05-08 Butchart Gardens in the right sidebar. Not all of the photos were from the gardens, however. The three herons were from the small bay right behind our RV in the Westbay Marine Village & RV Park in downtown Victoria.
Compared to Giverny, this garden was much more formal and set up for tourists rather than to be “lived in” as was Giverny. As for artists, this garden is less inviting because it is all narrow sidewalks with a constant flow of people — there are few spots where you can set an easel or tripod without blocking others.
Artistically, these gardens are much more “for show” rather than the more permanent feeling of the Giverny gardens. Everything at Butchart is sculpted and edged and presented with such perfection of design as to be an exhibition. Giverny was much more comfortable overall.
Best to you in all!
Dave
I was just looking through the photo album, and thinking that the gardens might rival Giverny. We were at Giverny at about the same time last year (maybe a day or two earlier). How did they compare in your mind? How about for mom – I know that she kept talking about how he laid out the gardens with a mindset for painting and composition. Do these compare?
Miss and love you!!
Thanks, Bec! It was a gorgeous spot, reminiscent of Giverney in some ways, though much more formal in all respects. We had a blast here!
That is GEORGOUS!!!