We received more than 1,000 garden photographs in the 2014 Homes & Gardens of the Northwest Garden Photo Contest. The top four winners will be announced online and in the Dec. 27 issue of Homes & Gardens.
The Oregonian staff photographers have also singled out 10 finalists for photographic merit.
Through Dec. 17, you will be able to view the finalists at www.oregonlive.com/hg-photo and vote for your favorite. The photo with the most votes will be deemed the People’s Choice winner and fifth place winner.
Here is another mini profile of one of the finalists:
Marc Sheridan
Marc Sheridan of Vancouver submitted “A Flick of the Tail,” an image of koi at the Portland Japanese Garden.
What captivated you about this image?
My wife and I moved here from California in June and one of the first things we did was to visit the Japanese Garden in Portland. Coming upon the koi pond, I was captivated by the colors and the fast moving fish and the water lilies in bloom were an added bonus. I took more than one photograph but the last one I took of the koi tail seemed so indicative of the quiet serenity of the gardens.
How did you capture it (equipment, light, setting)?
This photograph was shot with a Nikon D7000 on a tripod using a Nikon 18-140mm lens, no flash and no artificial lighting, just daylight at 11:45 a.m. The aperture was f32 (so stopped down all the way) and the shutter was 1/3rd of a second (slow to create blur).
What is your occupation? Does that benefit your photography skills and if so, how?
I am a graphic designer by trade, which definitely benefits me with composition and color.
When was the first time you took a photo? What have you learned since then?
The first photograph that I took was of an hibiscus flower in Northern California back in 2003 with Nikon’s first digital camera, a D100. Since then, I have learned a great deal about color, composition and the technical aspects of how to use a camera.
Koi at the Portland Japanese Garden: Vote for your favorite photo
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