Jason Ingram – Garden & Plant Photographer
Article by: Tony Woods
- Interviews
I first met Jason when I was contracted to write a book for the RHS: Big Ideas- Small Spaces. We spent a frantic few months piecing together projects, words, pictures – all whilst trying to keep the good ship GCL afloat. It was insanely stressful as I am sure most practical authors can vouch for however unlike a recipe book, you have to arrange around 10 different gardens at different times. I absolutely would not have got through it without Jasons skill and sense of humour. The publisher said it was my big chance, no commission, some expenses paid. Working with Jason, Kay my co-author and our art directors was compensation enough. We laughed until we cried sometimes when it all got too much. You can’t order the book because it sold out. The publisher didn’t call me back.
What first sparked your love of photography?
I think I’ve always wanted to be a photographer, or at least work with images in some shape or form from a very early age. It all began in the 1970s with my fascination with Jacques Cousteau. His television series about the undersea world completely mesmerised me and sparked what would become a lifelong love of photography.
My school wasn’t really geared toward sending students to Art College, but that’s exactly what I set my sights on. I knew photography was something I could do, and do well, so it was what I wanted to study. I went on to study Photography at Salisbury College of Art, and after completing my training and spending a few years assisting in the industry, it wasn’t until I was commissioned to shoot some gardens for the National Trust that I discovered garden photography was even a thing.
Can you say what your favourite garden is that you have ever photographed?
I’m often asked what my favourite garden is that I’ve ever photographed, which is almost impossible to answer. What I can say, though, is that being given the opportunity to travel far and wide is a real privilege, and one I never take for granted. I’ve seen some incredible gardens, both here in the UK, and further afield. I always love shooting in Sweden, as the light there is just so magical, and during the summer months, the golden hour seems to last forever.
How long has the book been in development and what was the inspiration behind it?
I suppose the book has been in development for many years. I’ve been working professionally as a garden photographer for over 20 years, and in recent years, the idea of writing it became more pressing. I taught an online Garden and Plant Photography Masterclass with Create Academy, and during that process, I realised I was already halfway to writing a book. It felt like the perfect time to bring it all together. I really wanted it to be a book about what I actually do on a daily basis while photographing—an opportunity to sit down, scrutinise my practice, and get it all down on paper. I’ve learned so much over the past 25 years about shooting gardens, and I felt this could really help someone coming into the industry, or even those simply wanting to improve their own photography.
Where do you see the future of photography? How will tech and AI intervene? Any trends in photography?
The topic of AI is constantly in the news when it comes to the creative industries, and I suppose it’s not going to go away anytime soon. Photography is more popular now than it has ever been, with more and more people using their smartphones to record the world around them—which I think is fantastic. When you break it down, photography today is fundamentally the same as it has always been, and I believe that will continue into the future. It’s also exciting to see a growing trend among younger photographers who are rediscovering film. There’s this wonderful parallel happening right now between the digital and analogue worlds, and I think that’s a really healthy and inspiring space for photography to exist in.
What do you do like to do when you don’t have a camera in your hand?
When I don’t have a camera in my hand, I really enjoy gardening. As well as garden photography, I’ve also had the privilege of photographing several cookbooks for some amazing chefs, so food is a big part of my life too. Growing food has now become even more interesting for me. Staying true to my roots, and inspired by Jacques Cousteau, the ocean is never far from my thoughts, and I try to surf as often as I can. One day, I hope to live by the sea.
