By Wayne Sherriff.
Palm House at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, South Australia.
Glasshouse and tree, by Wayne Sherriff
Palm House at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, South Australia.
An exquisite restored Victorian glasshouse imported from Bremen in Germany in 1875 and thought to be the only one of its kind in the world.
It was opened in 1877 and has been a focus in the gardens since that time. The hanging glass walls are similar to those used in modern city buildings today and were very advanced for the time.
This technical sophistication and Adelaide’s dry climate probably account for the Palm House’s survival with a remarkably high degree of originality. Restoration began in 1986 to restore it to its former glory and it now houses a display of Madagascan arid flora.
I chose a toned rendition because it accentuated the shapes and seemed to suit the subject better than colour.
Nikon Coolpix P7700
Don’s response
A familiar sight to Adelaide natives, the Palm House is one of those structures that just wants to be photographed.
I like Wayne Sherriff’s low-angled take on the delicate and graceful building. The angle of the path left and the shape of the prehistoric tree trunk right, lead the viewer’s eye to the building.
The dark sky above the building and in the right of the frame make a nice counterpoint to the soft white of the building’s columns.
Rendering the image in black and white was exactly the right decision.
