Grow your photography skills with tips from a Garden & Green Living Expo judge

What makes one garden photograph stand out from hundreds of others? According to Garden & Green Living Expo photo competition judge Jim Gill, start with the light.

“As judges, we’re looking for really good composition, sharpness, quality light and whether or not an image fits well in the category,” Gill said. “We’re also looking for a unique perspective. It’s one thing to go out into your garden and photograph a beautiful setting, but we’re looking for a different perspective on that scene.” 

“Dandelion Eclipse” by Jerry Behrendt of Menasha, Wisconsin, earned the Viewers Choice award at the 2024 Garden & Green Living Expo.

Find the light

“Light is what makes every photograph,” Gill said.”The quality of the light is often the thing that will push an image over the top. The light is what you see first and it is what makes shadows. That’s what creates dynamism.”

For photographers looking to capture a standout image, Gill recommends a simple shift in perspective: look for the light before looking for the subject.

“You may see better results if you look for really good light first before photographing something in that light, rather than finding the subject first and then taking a picture of it in sub-par light,” Gill said.

“Sunny Side of the Street” by Katherine Murphy, Fitchburg, Wisconsin, earned first place in the Plants and Flowers category at the 2024 Garden & Green Living Expo.

Know your category

With eight different categories to choose from, Gill urges photographers to double-check that their entry meets the specified requirements.

For photographers interested in telling a story through their images, the newest category — “Garden Stories” — offers another option.

“[This category] came about because we were getting a lot of photographs that didn’t meet the criteria for other categories,” Gill said. “And they were more about storytelling.”

The Garden Stories category also gives photographers an opportunity to capture connections with family, friends and nature in their favorite outdoor spaces.

“People are the story of any garden,” Gill said. “Whether working, hanging out with family or spending time with their animals.”

“Happy to Help” by Carol Kettner of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, earned second place in the Garden Stories category at the 2026 Garden & Green Living Expo.

An invitation to young photographers

The Novice Eye category, open to photographers ages 7-15, is free to enter. 

“Almost all of the photos from kids are judged into the show because we want to encourage them to begin and continue their journey in photography and gardening,” Gill said. “It’s fun for the kids to bring their family and friends to the expo to see their photo in the exhibit.”

“Tassels at Sunset” by Alexa Peterson of Osceola, Wisconsin, earned second place in the Novice Eye category at the 2026 Garden & Green Living Expo photography competition.

No better time than now

Ready to start photographing the world around you? Gill says there’s no better time to begin.

“I would tell any photographer who’s really interested in this kind of imagery that they should not only go into their own backyard or their neighbor’s backyard, but they should also go to public gardens and parks all over the state. Don’t think about these places just as locations to get a winning image, but also as places to go to practice.”

“New photographers can see what we’ve juried into the show and what we consider good images by visiting the galleries online,” Gill said. “That’s a really good place to start for anyone who wants to enter the competition.”

“Frosty Foggy Autumn Morn” by Katherine Murphy of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, earned first place in the Landscape category at the 2026 Garden & Green Living Expo.

Enter the 2027 contest

Entry forms and digital photographs for the 2027 Garden & Green Living Expo photography competition must be received by Dec. 15, 2026. See more details at wigardenexpo.com/photo-competition.

Save the dates for the 2027 Garden & Green Living Expo Feb. 12-14, 2027 in Madison, Wisconsin.

PBS Wisconsin hosts Garden & Green Living Expo in partnership with the UW-Madison Division of Extension Horticulture Program. All proceeds support PBS Wisconsin’s quality programming, educational initiatives and events that serve to enrich Wisconsin communities.