Succulents are one of the most photogenic of plants groups. The leaves are bold and graphic, arranged in geometric patterns, creating strong shapes.

Gardens with mature succulents can be a candy store for a photographer.  One of the very best anywhere is the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, California,

I find that I increasingly use shape as the most important element in composing a photograph.  Photographs transform our three-dimensional world into two dimensions, so the shape of each element in a composition needs to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.

When the shapes are bold and graphic enough, such as in a succulent garden, they lend themselves to an artistic treatment, as I did here using the Topaz Impression filters.

Before and After Slider

Talk about a kid in the candy store !  More images of the Bancroft Garden in this gallery.

My Hardy Succulents book.