In Blenheim we are fortunate to have Pollard Park and Seymour Square close by. The Marlborough District Council's gardeners do an excellent job keeping the gardens beautifully maintained to the highest standard.

With my job I work four days a week, giving me a three-day weekend, which provides the perfect opportunity to take regular photo walks through both Pollard Park and Seymour Square. These walks begin in early spring and continue through the summer months. I especially enjoy taking macro and close-up photos of flowers and insects, capturing the small details and subtle textures that often go unnoticed.

When I photograph flowers I generally look for blooms that are healthy and well-formed, with pleasing backgrounds, and I prefer shooting them in the shade or better yet on an overcast day. I find that the colours of the blooms can get washed out in direct sunlight, which also tends to create harsh, unwanted shadows across petals and leaves. Choosing softer light helps reveal richer tones and subtle details.

A previous speaker we had at the Marlborough Camera Club mentioned that she had the Seek by iNaturalist app installed on her phone. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices. I installed it on my phone too, and you simply use the camera to scan any natural species — the app will identify the species and also provide useful information about it. It is a very handy tool to help identify plants, flowers and insects when you’re out in the field.

Below is a selection of photos that I have taken on my photo walks in both Pollard Park and Seymour Square since early spring this year, captured during different times of day and varied weather for a range of moods and details.

Pollard Park