Tara Gill, Botanical Design Photography

Some Exotic Tropical Plants

Tara Gill — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:58:13 +0000

We traveled to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica this Christmas to see my parents. Any serious photography pursuits were thwarted my 2 year old, but I did appreciate many tropical lovelies with my iPhone.

Here are some of my favorites. If you know the names please help me out!

Mystery Flower & Tree

Tara Gill — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:08:39 +0000

Any one have any ideas about this one? It is about 75 feet tall and in Zone 9b. The flowers are held high atop the canopy. It is blooming in early October.

Selection of Wattle Designs

Tara Gill — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:22:05 +0000

Here are a few of the first designs of acacia longifolia…click on the image to see it larger.

Botanical Tile Prototypes

Tara Gill — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:21:43 +0000

I have decided! I am starting a new adventure and business.

Can you see my botanical images on tiles, pillows, fabrics or other home products? I can see it, thanks to feedback from friends and followers and I am starting with ceramic tiles for home and garden.

I have just begun, done one round of prototypes (with more to come I am sure), and starting to research the biz.

Do I produce them myself and sell them to local tile companies or try to sell the designs to a big tile company like Ann Sacks or Walker Zanger? All good questions that I need to find answers to.

Please let me know your thoughts.

California Home + Design

Tara Gill — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 05:25:06 +0000

Thanks to Stephanie Orma and California Home + Design for featuring my botanical photography on their blog.

California Home + Design has a wealth of resources and inspiration. Visit their site. You can browse by style: Bohemian, Modern, Rustic or Traditional.

Stephanie is a Designer turned Design Writer for HOW, Dwell, Fast Company, Print, SF Chronicle, Metropolis, Azure, SF Brides Mag & more! And she’s funny. Great, funny cards available at her Etsy Store.

Art and Plastic

Tara Gill — Thu, 12 May 2011 04:46:11 +0000

I did not know there was a connection between a Zero Waste Home and plastic art until this week. Let me explain how it all came together.

A few weeks ago I saw a film about a Zero Waste Home and I have been mildly obsessed ever since. Bea Johnson and her family produce next to no garbage, and recycle very little. They simply do not buy things that are packaged. They need not worry about what to do with it all because there is no all. She writes a blog called Zero Waste Home that has many tips on reducing waste and living more simply. The concept I really get as I have been decluttering my own home is that having less stuff gives me more time. The more I get rid of the more I question my future purchases and the less there is to look after. There is real freedom in that.

Last week I saw an art exhibit at Electric Works Gallery that visually represented why one might choose to give up packaging altogether. This particular series by Chris Jordan showed baby albatross on remote Midway Island dead from having ingested plastic that their parents fed them. Bottle lids, Bic lighters, you name it; all manner of our bits and bobs.

Chris takes massive numbers relating to our consumption and reduces them to a digestible (and rather indigestible) visual representations. In tandem with his photographs are powerful life-sized images of whales taken by Bryant Austin. This show is over now but the effects are lingering.

I met Richard Lang, a partner at Electric Works, and we struck up a lively conversation about plastic. He and his wife have been scouring a California beach for over 12 years collecting plastic of an amazing array. They have a really interesting story. And I love their art work (below) which is made entirely out of plastic collected from one beach. The similar style to my designs struck me. They have upcoming shows in the Bay Area.

Wreath Soldiers, Beachplastic.com

Wreath Hairclips, BeachPlastic.com

These many inspirations are exponentially powerful. Here’s to the power of art and the consumer!

International Garden Photographer of the Year

Tara Gill — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 04:04:21 +0000

While I did not win with my entries, I thought my readers may enjoy some of the beautiful imagery at the IGPOTY site.

The hands that pick the food that I eat is the portfolio winner. Deservedly so.

Plant portrait winners here.

The judges offered to tell me why I wasn’t chosen and this what they said: “A lot of your photographs, including your portfolio, got through to the final rounds of judging. They are of a very high standard and were much admired by the judges. Unfortunately for you, you are in a hugely popular category – plant portraits – and the competition is very fierce. I think your work is very likely to do very well in this competition in future years. The wisteria pods were particularly admired. Congratulations.”

New Logo Design, Light Intent

Tara Gill — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 04:26:39 +0000

This logo has elements of sun, flower, and visually conveys rays that have direction, intention, and self-reflection. The circle created by the negative space creates an open and inviting feel drawing the viewer in. The symbols are universal and cross cultural.

See more logos

JPG Magazine here I am

Tara Gill — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 04:46:05 +0000

I have a photo published in issue 26 of JPEG Magazine. Can you guess which one? Find out here.

Here is a clue:

Juxtaposition
1. an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, esp. for comparison or contrast.
2. the state of being close together or side by side.

It is a great theme and you will likely enjoy all the images.

Cistus purpureus, Orchid rockrose, papery blossoms

Tara Gill — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 03:58:06 +0000

The fine fragility of this Orchid Rockrose is its most exquisite feature, along with its wonderful coloring and contrasting stamens. We’ll see about a design soon…