I love taking pictures of gardens, both my own and others that I visit in the city and when I travel. On the left is a favourite photo of Nitobe Memorial Garden which I took earlier this year in Vancouver.

Gardens and photography are mates; taking pictures helps capture the transitory beauty of gardens with the changing seasons.

The Photographic garden: mastering the art of digital garden photography is a new title to help you hone your skills. The author, Matthew Benson, lectures widely on the topic and publishes his work in books, magazines and catalogues.

He begins with light and its impact on the garden scene. He talks about its qualities at different times of day and in different seasons. He offers tips on how to shoot into the light through leaves and behind tree limbs to soften the impact.

The very large chapter on design covers many important elements beginning with the principals of design and selecting a point of view. He shows how to use props and add narrative to your photographs. Pets and people enliven your garden scene.

The last chapter looks at the ways you can improve or manipulate the captured image with the computer using software such as Photoshop.

If you’re looking for comrades to share tips and tricks, check out our photo club which meets at regular intervals throughout the fall.

-Jane

Today's blog comes from David Ramsey, Central Library staff:

In this era of digital photography, when you are snapping shots of everything (because you can), what do you do with all those pictures? If you secret them away in a computer file, they are soon forgotten. And huddling around a monitor to see all those family photos isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

However, if you compile those images into a printed book, you’ll have something unique to grace your coffee table. It is not an inexpensive venture - but think of the money saved by not having to print every picture before seeing it. There are local photo shops and online companies willing to help you and a new book in our collection to walk you through the process.

Create Your Own Photo Book is the new title by Petra Vogt. She starts by providing all the good reasons for making one and suggests project ideas. She gives an overview to photo albums in general and lists the pros and cons of working with different publishers and service providers.

Vogt goes into every aspect of production, including shooting and selecting pictures, scanning old images, and creating page backgrounds. She talks about the addition of text and graphic elements and provides tips for quality control. For those wanting to sell their work, she gives advice. The last chapter is devoted to concrete examples: 5 photo books using a number of the previously discussed publishers.

After a European trip with the Calgary Concert Band last summer, I discovered photo books and used an online publisher to compile my own. The cover of my book, on the left, shows a convent where the band festival was held reflected in a tuba. Above right, you can see some pictures from our tour of Rome. Note the natty airmail-paper border.

It was an interesting and rewarding project that produced a wonderful memento of my trip that is easy to share with family and friends.

- Dave

Today’s blog comes from Candace Weir, Central Library staff:

I love looking at images: paintings, photographs or sculptures.

One of the library’s newest acquisitions, In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States has lots to look at; its pages are filled with weird and wonderful imagery.

The book presents the work of well-known artists such as Frida Kahlo, Lois Alvarez Bravo and Louise Bourgeois. One painting, the Creation of the birds, I would love to have hanging on a wall in my house. It was created by the Mexican surrealist, Remedios Varo. I have a particular fondness for the work of Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington. These women were close friends, meeting over coffee in each other’s kitchens. (You can learn more about their lives and work in another great book from our collection: Surreal Friends: Leonora Carrington, Remedios Varo and Kati Horna.)

Included, as well, is the work of lesser-known artists. It introduced me to a number of great images and artists, such as the exquisitely sensitive photography of Francesca Woodman. She captured haunting images often using her own body in decaying interiors.

Publishers are rediscovering some very fine artists who have had little published about them. What a joy for us to share in this discovery!

- Candace

Today's blog comes from Candace Weir, Central Library staff:

Sometimes a new book turns up on the shelf and you go WOW!!!

Today that happened with Dan Burkholder’s book: iphone Artistry. The time has now arrived when you can almost effortlessly transform your favourite photos into something that you will be happy to hang on your wall. I say almost effortlessly, because there is, for me, a learning curve involved.

While learning Photoshop seems daunting, the process described by Burkholder looks doable. Check out the images on his website. They were all taken with his iPhone and altered by using low-cost apps with the methods he describes in the book.

The “iPhone” in his title is a bit of a misnomer because his methods work with an iPod touch as well. If the App fits, try it, is my motto. I have an older iPod, one without a camera. It is easy enough to transfer images from my computer onto it to work with his process.

The great thing about the iPhone/iPod is its portability. You could be sitting in your favourite coffee shop and working on the latest creation for your living room wall.

The only downside to this whole experiment is the size of the screen. I'm thinking that a trip to the optometrist might be in order. After playing around for a while, the whole world is a bit blurry – which leads me to the last link I want to share with you: a good article on digital eye strain.

Candace

Last November, if you were lucky enough (and I was) to catch the Wordfest program with Ian Tyson, you learned that our favourite cowboy was an art school graduate. That was before he broke his leg and picked up the guitar.

The program featured a relaxed conversation between Tyson and Corb Lund – his protégé. They discussed wide-ranging influences like Western legends, Will James and Charlie Russell, as well as the song-writing process.

Along with his renowned musical career, Tyson is an expert at training cutting horses and an environmentalist, determined to preserve the integrity of Alberta ranchlands.

Tyson’s biography is an engaging read that explores the trails of personal, musical and ranch life. He’s happy to kiss and tell and speaks fondly of the women in his life.

As you would expect, the library has a generous collection of Tyson CDs, from his early folkie days with Sylvia to his classic Cowboyography.

Tyson and Lund are among the many performers featured on the new release 35 years of Stony Plain: Canada's roots, rock, folk, country and blues label. It’s on order for the collection and I have my name on the list.

Shooting Cowboys is the clever title by Brock V. Silversides that tracks the changing image of the Canadian cowboy over 90 years. He takes a look at working cowboys, rodeo cowboys, cowboy entertainers and cowboy poseurs. Think we might see a few of those this week.

Dale Auger was a renowned artist from the Bigstone Cree Nation in northern Alberta. “Dale produced visually stunning, provocative paintings that captured the attention and imagination or art collectors around the world”. That’s a quote from the jacket and I couldn’t think of better words. A few hours spent with the work shown in Medicine Paint are hours very well spent.

Dale’s daughter, Neepin Auger, is also a painter who had a recent show at the Bluerock Gallery (formerly Terra Cotta Gallery) in Black Diamond. This gallery that shows the work of more than 100 Alberta artists is a great excuse to hit the Cowboy Trail this summer.

Cowboy biographies, music and photography - and art infused with the spirit of native culture - my happy trails are meandering.