Picture This Photo Contest entry: Down on Your Knees

August 09, 2009


Photographer and blogger David Perry is judging this month’s photo contest over at Gardening Gone Wild. He asked us to get down on our knees for a unique perspective on our gardens.
Here is my entry. As you can see, I’m playing along with the spirit of the contest if not following it to the letter. This isn’t a garden picture. But, gardener that I am, I was drawn to these crimson gladioli when I visited this beautiful old church in Amsterdam a few years ago.
The glads stood in a bucket on the flagstone floor of Oude Kerk (Old Church). I went over to photograph them and knew I’d have to get low to get a good shot. But I didn’t want a plain wall or, worse, folding chairs in the background of the shot. Looking up, I noticed the beautiful stained-glass window high above, and I thought it would provide a nice counterpoint to the bright flowers. So I got down on my knees on those ancient flagstones, crouching low, and shot up at the glads with the stained glass in the background.
Hopefully, no smart-aleck tourist was shooting my contortions for their own travel album.
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

0 responses to “Picture This Photo Contest entry: Down on Your Knees”

  1. Lisa at Greenbow says:

    Now this is a beautiful photo Pam. So appropriate for Sunday post too.
    Thanks, Lisa. I thought it was particularly appropriate for Sunday too. —Pam

  2. Janet says:

    I like it. Good contribution.
    Thanks, Janet. Many times my love of gardening and of travel intersect. This was one of those moments. —Pam

  3. Town Mouse says:

    Are you sure this month isn’t the garden through time? I mean, it’s a great photo, but ;->
    I’m not sure what you mean TM. Am I missing the joke? Clue me in. 🙂 —Pam

  4. Beautiful picture. I bet you’ll nab top prize.
    Thanks for saying so, Linda, but I’m a little off-topic on this one. I don’t expect to win but couldn’t resist entering with my pseudo-garden picture. 😉 I look forward to seeing all the entries from a lower-than-usual angle. —Pam

  5. ESP says:

    I don’t think it is off topic at all, The title of the contest being “Down on your Knees”, the Church picture, quite fitting, and a great play on the title!
    Wonderful image Pam.
    ESP.
    Thank you, ESP. —Pam

  6. Great photo! I like your take on “down on your knees”. What beautiful stained glass. Good luck in the contest.
    Thanks, Teresa. —Pam

  7. A beautiful shot and worth the effort.
    Thanks, Linda. It’ll be a sad day indeed when the knees are too creaky for such efforts. Mine are creakier than they used to be but still holding up. —Pam

  8. Town Mouse says:

    Oh, never mind. I was sick for about 2 weeks with the flu and totally lost track of what’s what.
    Better get out with my camera then ;->
    Sorry to hear you were sick, TM, but glad that I’m on topic. 😉 Have fun shooting! —Pam

  9. Loree says:

    Beautiful. It almost chokes me up…I mean that in a very good way. It is a powerful picture!
    I’m glad you like it, Loree. Thanks. —Pam

  10. Michelle D. says:

    Pam I like your play on words as well as the photo
    Sharp !
    Michelle
    Thanks, Michelle! —Pam

  11. Dave says:

    That is a very neat shot! A nice double meaning too.

  12. Bruce Tate says:

    That’s absolutely stunning. It’s a great take on the title, from two different ‘perspectives’.

  13. Kim says:

    I really like the photo and the double take on words – good one!

  14. I’m laughing imagining you down there on the floor. It’s a lovely shot. I’m not usually a fan of Gladiolus, but they look perfect with the windows.

  15. Beautiful photo, Pam. I’m pretty darn sure that my first singing engagement in A’dam was at Oude Kerk. This is quite a trip down memory lane! Thank you!
    Kathryn, I didn’t know you were a singer! How amazing to think of you singing in that beautiful church. Wonderful! —Pam

  16. Pam/Digging says:

    Thank you all for your kind comments. I know many of you will enter the contest too, and I look forward to seeing everyone’s take on this theme. —Pam