With over 25 years ’ experience in picture taking , Clive has build up an extensive portfolio of more than 100,000 images , photographed some of the world ’s most renowned gardens ( admit the secret gardens of HRH The Prince of Wales in Scotland ) and bring out several books .
Beyond his picture taking , he is committed to sharing his expertise through master classes in bloom and garden photography for the Royal Horticultural Society .
Clive address with me about his original love of travel picture taking , and his other morning time shoot , and also offered advice on how to employ brightness successfully when shooting gardens .
How Did You First Get Into Photography?
“ I went to Reading University and read Geography , ” explains Clive .
“ I worked in a eating house whilst I was at university to earn money to travel , which was my dream , alongside taking photograph . Afterwards , I became a Head Chef in an Italian restaurant in Reading , where I stayed for a couple of years until I finally see that it was n’t for me .
“ From there , I knew I had to go into photography because that ’s what I was passionate about . I originate doing travelling photography . I went to the Falklands and Hong Kong , which was fund by tourist boards . Those experiences were amazing .
Credit: Clive Nichols
“ After a while , I realised that with all the travelling , I was n’t ever going to be able to make enough money to sustain a career in it , so I had to conceive about what else I could do .
“ I soon discovered that horticulture was massive and there were so many magazines featuring C of pic . After this uncovering , I went to a local garden and took lots of pic , then betray them to Homes & Gardens magazine . They asked me to do some more , and it just went from there . ”
How Has Your Photography Style Evolved Over The Years?
“ When I first embark on , I was shooting medium - data formatting shots , which nobody else was doing . This meant that my image stood out , because they were already in a bigger format than others like them .
“ I also take a landscape painting coming and always carefully composed my shots . I guess that learn me a bunch about competition in the long foot race .
“ That ’s how I got commence and it has germinate from there . I ’d say I ’m emphatically a bit more fluid and looser now in my style than I used to be . ”
Credit: Clive Nichols
Can You Explain Some Of The Challenges With Garden Photography? What Difficulties Have You Faced?
“ The expectant difficulty is evidently the weather , ” Clive says .
“ Every day I check the Met Office and other weather apps to see what ’s happening at the gardens I ’m planning to fool away . Some days , you ca n’t take photos , so you have to be very patient and wait for the right time to come .
“ The other thing that people do n’t actualize is that the hint is unmanageable to parcel out with . The condition are horrible if it ’s wordy , so I like to shoot on still twenty-four hour period , especially in the dawn .
Credit: Clive Nichols
“ You also have to get up very too soon , which is not for everyone ! In the summertime , I ’ll be in the garden at 4:30am , so you have to be capable to do that .
“ The business also comes with a mess of driving , my Golf has done over 400,000 international nautical mile ! ”
What Does A Typical Day In Your Working Life Look Like?
“ There are a couple of unlike twenty-four hour period really . A distinctive office day involves great deal of admin , invoicing and post - yield on the images I ’ve shot .
“ I have to cultivate up all of the photographs and caption them with the correct botanic names to upload them to my online photo art gallery , which has over 100,000 double on it presently .
“ The other typical day for me is when I go on a shoot . I ’ll waken up at 2 or 3 in the morn and then expend the quietus of the twenty-four hour period rest , as it is very tiring work . I get to the full stop where I ca n’t do much else other than quietus ! ”
Credit: Clive Nichols
Have You Got A Favourite Garden That You Have Shot?
There ’s a few that I shoot a lot which I jazz , ” shares Clive .
“ One of them is called Morton Hall , as I am commissioned there a lot . I ’ve probably been there over 50 time ! I ’ve also become affiliated to Silver Street Farm in Devon , as I bang all of the best angles [ from ] which to shoot it .
“ Another of my favourites , Pettifers , is in my settlement , so I could get up early and go and germinate there . unluckily , the owner has lately pall , but it ’s still one of my most memorable . ”
Credit: Clive Nichols
Are There Any Gardens You Dream Of Photographing But Haven’t Had The Chance To Yet?
“ Some of the gardens in France and Morocco really stand out to me . Having said that , I also would sleep together to continue shooting Irish gardens , as I ’ve been over there a duo of times of late .
“ There are certainly some clothes designer who bring out superb gardens that I would jazz to snap . ”
You Regularly Give Master Classes In Flower And Garden Photography For The Royal Horticultural Society. What Are Some Key Takeaways You Hope Your Students Gain From These Classes?
“ It ’s usually about the right sorts of light source and teach to understand it , ” he explains .
“ It ’s so important to know where the light is coming from . One of the biggest mistakes new photographers run to make is shooting in the centre of the sidereal day when the sun is too harsh .
“ Teaching them about when to shoot gardens and where the light should be is very authoritative to me . ”
Credit: Clive Nichols
Your Work Has Appeared In Hundreds Of Books, Magazines, Calendars, And Brochures. Is There A Particular Publication That Stands Out For You?
“ My book , Brilliant English Gardens , is definitely my in force achievement . I design it myself and did the whole affair on my own , so it was quite substantial .
“ It ’s presently deal out , but it is getting reissue in November . It features 26 of my favourite gardens in England . ”
What’s Next?
“ I ’ve get a rule book coming out on the gardens , landscapes and interior of Corfu , which is looking awing at the consequence , ” says Clive .
“ Hopefully , that will be out next spring . ”
