How does one photograph a legendary place, an iconic garden, known and loved the world over? A location that has been painted to perfection by the brilliant artist who created it, and photographed from every angle, in every season so that even taking a single image of a single red poppy risks redundancy?
If you’ve been there, you know. It is breathtaking. The garden design itself is as stunning a creation as the artworks inspired by it.
I felt very humbled, and uncertain, in attempting to capture its atmosphere.
Often, when I share location images here, I include record shots – what the place looks like if you were standing there – as well as images that capture more of how it makes me feel, less literal and more atmospheric.
Here, truly, only a purely impressionistic style seemed appropriate.
Is this exactly what Giverny looks like? No, not precisely. But then again, perhaps. And possibly how Monsieur Monet imagined it, over the course of nearly 40 years, but who am I to presume?
I can only share my interpretation, of a warm June afternoon, riots of color and bloom, drooping willow and bamboo. And everywhere, poppies.
There is, with certainty, no place like it on Earth.
We felt so fortunate. And here, because otherwise without it, this might seem too fantastical, is the magical water garden, the well known bridge and the most famous waterlilies ever grown.
Taken by D, among the roses with my camera, a sunny day in June. Nothing more need be said.
Thank you so much for your visits, comments and for following along. Each of you is very important and special in our lives. And D and I wish you a most joyful weekend!
xo – g
WOW…no words to describe how beautiful this is
I'm floored. I'm speechless. I'm amazed. I'm in awe. I salute you ~ an astounding series of images!
Dear Georgianna,
You have captured Monet's garden so perfectly and I felt like I was walking around there.
Thank you for showing us your gorgeous photographs.
The first picture with the pink roses and the house behind is amazing.
You are so beautiful and was great to see the photo of you.
Have a happy weekend
Hugs
Carolyn
It's all gorgeous Georgianna but I especially love the single poppy and the house with the turquoise shutters and pink roses. (so nice to see you too!) It sounds like you had a fabulous trip.
Dear Georgianna, you have captured like no other the magnificence of Monet´s gardens, I have really cried looking at your images…
lots of hugs dear
My dear friend, You have captured the feeling perfectly. The photos are gorgeous and so are you. Inside and out. I hope you have a fantastic weekend and take care. hugs, Jenxo
Georgianna you have seen the heaven. I have dreamed about that place and read books and seen documentary. That place is beyond all the expectations I believe and I 'm so happy you showed me some of that.
Henrietta
I ditto what everyone else has already said, truly magical. Your photos do it justice.
Oh and, please put a print up in your Etsy shop of the tree loaded with the pink roses (opposite the google followers). I'll be all over it!
Wow, I can't even find the words to describe the beauty in your photographs of Monet's garden. Thank you for sharing this G, and the photo of you is so lovely. Hope you have a wonderful weekend my friend.
I almost fainted; no just kidding but this post certainly made my jaw drop. I think your pictures are giving us a fabulous view. Sitting here with fresh coffee and drooling over these stunning photos. I know for sure Mr. Monet will love it. These poppies; sigh… But I can't pick a favorite photo. I would hang them all in my living room.
The both of you are very talented and this blog is a pleasure to visit. And a wonderful source of inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful work!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Stella
p.s. and thank you so much for your wonderful comment on my little blog; I appreciate it more than I can say!
Dear Georgianna,
no words but only emotions…incredible..I'm amazed..
Thanks for sharing whit us..
Hugs .Have a wonderful week end!
Monica
Gorgeous G, you've made Giverny look incredibly beautiful, full of colour and light. I will definitely have to visit it someday. Also, lovely to see you in some of your posts recently!! It seems that any of my replies to your comments on my blog are going undelivered – so I will write you a big email soon from gmail or have a chat if we're online at the same time xx
Those are the most beautiful photos of Monet's garden that I have ever seen!
Beautiful photo of you as well.
You must have enjoyed that trip immensely as you had so much beauty to capture.
Carolyn
All the previous comments pretty much summed it up, but I have to chime in about seeing the beautiful picture of you, too. So glad you included that! It's the icing on the cake.
Dearest sweet g, i am so in love with this garden. Your photos are always so gorgeous and they tell such beautiful stories. So glad i have this inspiring space of yours to visit. Have a lovely merry happy weekend and love to you!
Thank you so much for this lovely group of photos of this famous garden. You captured more than the physical beauty, you captured the heart and soul as well.
FlowerLady
Needed a boost of Georgianna-ness and I am delighted I came by and soaked up the wonder within this Monet post!
I love ALL the images but especially the first with the house behind the roses. It looks to me like a pocket of heaven on earth.
I feel lucky to know about your blog in order to have in some way visited this divine place.
Thank you G! And wow gorgeous lady! I love that picture D took of you – very special as you don't show them very often
Much love
Kat xoxo
G, this is surreal! How can any place be so beautiful. you do injustice to these places, because your pictures make everything look so utterly breathtaking.
Monet is my favorite painter and in these photos I found his spirit! They are breathtaking! I love them!
Bianca
My heart skipped a beat or two!
oh my gosh golly giverney goodness!! claude's art combined with yours, well… it is all so beautiful…including you.
thank you so much for this…i am inspired.
erin
xxoo
Incredible – just incredible! wow!
Simply gorgeous!
Being a big Monet admirer and having seen many of his paintings everywhere, you see me speechless with your pictures. I think you entirely transport what Monet may have felt, or seen in his retreat at Giverny. Your interpretations, views, use of colours, your play with focus is absolutely admirable. With these pictures you gained my deepest respect! A.
Georgianna,
Although I haven't visited Giverny, I am very familiar with all of Monet's paintings and garden views. You have done a splendid job of capturing the best that is Impressionism – the gorgeous, high key color palette, the soft and seductive view, and the beauty of the everyday scene. Monet's "everyday scene" is certainly spectacular, a true labor of love. It is fun and inspiring to see two artists linked through time by a place, revealing a vision – each unique but similar. Bravo to you!
Hope your week is happy!
xo Anna
Lovely photos! I went to Monet's Gardens at Giverny in May 2009. My favorite gardens! On this last trip to Paris in April 2011, we didn't take the time to go out there, but it is a wonderful day trip.
Freda Cameron
Dear G, I think Blogger ate my first attempt to comment. I honestly don't know what to say — this is beyond beautiful! I can only imagine how it must have felt to stand amidst all that beauty, and your incredible talent and your love of Giverny have transported me there. Thank you so much for this gorgeous post!
xoxo
Oh these are so gorgeous. Love them.
You have capture this magical place in the most beautiful way.. Your photos are amazing..
Thanks so much for sharing them with us..
Hugs, Linda
Thank you very much, dear friends. You've made my day! xo – g
OMGosh! These garden photos are breathtaking! I just want to close my eyes and pray I'm transported into that gorgeous place. And your photo; what can I say? You are just beautiful, and this photo is wonderful. It's my favorite of you thus far, just love it! ♥
The poppies are breathtaking! And I'm still in love with all your bokehs in the photos. It's beautiful to see the flowers just blend into little colored spots around. It's lovely. :) I think you captured the garden perfectly!
Oh and I hope you've been more than well, G! Have a great weekend. x
Who am I to say this — but I'd say Monet would have been very happy with how you've captured the place! Also a very lovely shot of you by D. xo L
Goosebumps!!! I love the Monet "lily pad" painting…. and your interpretation of it is gorgeous! What a privilege to see your work of that garden. Thanks so much for sharing… it's all beautiful!!
Oh my! These photos are beautiful beyond words… I feel that I simply MUST visit these gardens someday. Thanks for sharing! Take care! xo Moa
So beautiful!
Just absolutely incredible G!!! All of them are exactly what I believe he saw and would say you captured perfectly! I can't thank you enough for sharing them with us – I don't know about everyone else, but I am honored! Sorry for getting to this so late – little Ben was sick and in the hospital Thurs/Fri. – back home now and feeling much better! hugs! t.
I wanted to look at your beautiful images again!!!! aahhhhh!!!
and you look so beautiful!!!
hugs dear
Georgianna, these are truly some of your very best, and how fortunate you were to be able to capture these. Each one is simply breathtaking, and you look absolutely beautiful!
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend.
Hi Georgianna!
Speechless! Such gorgeous moments you have captured.
xoleslie
My oh my, these are so pretty and romantic! I love this!
How did you get the pastel coloring on them?
Blessings,
This Good Life
My dear G,
Your photos have captured Giverny perfectly – i knew you would.
I have a roll like this at home myself and even i seemed to do the place grace, although, I dont think you could take a bad photo there.
It was one of the most perfect places i have visited. I believe I have the secret to Monet's long life – he already lived in paradise.
x
such a beautiful and wonderful place!!! speechless!
your pictures are amazing!
Breathtaking Georgianna! You've captured Giverny brilliantly in all it's magnificent light, colour and beauty. And you look so happy, so satisfied, so serene – you LUCKY lady, I'm thrilled for you!!
xo
Hello G
These photos just take my breath away!
There is no doubt in my mind that if anyone could capture the beauty of Monet's garden it would be you. I think because of your love for flowers and gardens it gives you an advantage of interpretation when photographing any garden, even a famous one like this.
The photo of you against the roses is lovely and thanks for sharing your work so others can visit places we may never see in person ourselves.
Judith
Unas imagenes sencillamente preciosas.
un placer pasar por tu casa.
feliz semana.
Breathtaking! Your photos are stunning!And you looks so beautiful!
Hugs,
Yvonne
I'm overwhelmed with your dreamy photos!
I just found your blog and I added it to my favourite blogs' list!
I've been longing to visit the garden for at least 8 years!!!
Oh my goodness Georgianna! What amazing images you've made! I love how you perfectly captured the impressionistic view. :)
I can only imagine how amazing it felt to be standing there, taking it all in. Gorgeous nature. I LOVE that shot of you!
Have a great weekend!
So I googled Monet's garden, and I have to say, the photos I saw didn't look like this! You make the flowers, the pond, the trees, and house all look like candyland, and I mean that in a good way.
Maybe one day I will venture over seas. Until then I'll continue to view photo's like yours. Divine, Gorgianna.
Oh, and you are as lovely as your photos : )
G, you are beautiful! So lovely, my friend – you captured this iconic garden beautifully.
My this is all so lovely! You are very beautiful and talented Georgianna.
I adore your honest reflection on this post. You have captured it beautifully. And yet again you look beautiful too.
OOOOOH so gorgeous. We went there in the fall and I would love to go in the spring. You captured it beautifully!!!
Dear Georgianna, The photographs of the poppies are very beautiful. And what a gorgeous photographer! No wonder you have such an eye for beauty… your beauty comes from within, it is written all over your lovely face.
Your photography is breathtaking, Georgianna! Amazing! Hope you have a wonderful week! :)
Ada
I'm so inspired…your work just goes from strength to strength. Love Sarah x
What beautiful photos very inspiring thank you for sharing them :)
i think you did the garden justice…..after all, while monet painted it, you photographed it…..
i think he would be proud….
hugs, cindy
Hi Georgianna!
So glad you liked my photos!Thank you for the enthusiastic comment.
The beach is at the place where I live, in northern Peloponnese, Greece.
Absolutely magical! fantasticly beautiful!
Totally enchanting, just like stepping into his paintings. I just put up photos of our trip to the rose garden at Borde Hill if you fancy taking a peek. Catherine x
Dear Georgianna, Such incredible photos and breathtaking beauty! I'm speechless!!! I love Monet's work and would so love to visit his garden one day. Thank you for sharing your interpretation of his enchanting and magical garden with us. Wini xo
What simply beautiful photos you took in Monet's garden, and it was lovely to include a photo of yourself this time. Hope you are both keeping well.
Well aren't you a sweet young thing. Like a Monet your self. Why oh why can I not take a picture of my poppies like that. I hear you have a lens baby and I just bought one. Maybe you could give us a tutorial on it some day. I really need the help. V
i absolutely adore the colors in the first photo g! the turquoise and pink are soo pretty together! and finally a beautiful pic of yourself!! :)
These are pure magic! Amazing. I felt like you gave me a personal tour. Absolutely brilliant work! I hope you have so much fun! You look just radiant! xo
How do you photograph the world's most famous garden? You send Georgianna Lane (and D) to get the job done! Absolutely beautiful, sweet lady! As always, I love your "words" as well … thanks for the inspiration to photograph/edit with the feelings invoked by the location.
The personal picture shows you were definitely in your "happy place." :)
Hello gorgeous!! I'm really admiring the photo of the tree with the pink blooms…the symmetry is really striking with that dreamy blur around it. Also, the lilypad sparkles with bokeh! Your images fade in and out of a fairytale and have a great flow to them- you made blog reading soooo enjoyable! :) See you soon…~M
Hi there,
Slightly offtopic, but I just wanted to let you know that I've written a mini-review of your blog at a link-up post on my blog. Feel free to check it out and I hope my recommendation will give you more traffic!
Here is the link:
http://this-good-life.blogspot.com/2011/07/through-blogging-door-ii.html
Best wishes,
This Good Life
{{{Big sigh!}}} And such a beautiful photo of YOU! Pretty lady! And those pink poppies…beyond breathtaking! OK, all the photos are beyond breathtaking…but the poppies are calling to me….and that tree popping with pink blossoms! x&o;, Annette
As a Monet fan for many years, I would say you captured these perfectly. Each one is exquisite! WOW!!
These are beautiful images. You do wonderful photography! You have really captured the mood of Monet's garden . . . isn't it beautiful.
Oh, Georgianna your photos are so breathtaking. I wish I could experience all of this beauty in person, it almost seems magical. Look at all those poppies…love them.
xo Tricia
Hello dear G,
I have had the most amazing time going over the posts I have missed here. I am totally speechless by all the beautiful pictures you have shared. This post on Monet's garden is so amazing, I have no words to describe the feeling I got while viewing them.
The picture of you is gorgeous!!!
I am so thrilled to have been able to see these last amazing posts of your travels.
sending hugs…
That's what we all do: sharing our interpretation of the world on our blogs. Just that you do it in a very beautiful way. Those pictures are stunning :-) Have a lovely weekend xo
I think Monet would be pleased to see your beautiful images of his home & gardens… and you would inspire him to want to paint some more!!! You inspire me always… these are so, so lovely g! The most lovely flower here though is you.D captured you so real & honest. I agree with Gina that your beauty comes from within as it shows in your face! Thank you so much for sharing with us all.
Love… Dianne
These are amazing … just amazing. As I look at each one, I'm convinced that it's my favourite only to have it outdone by the next one! Thank you for sharing Monet's garden through your eyes. xo
I am speechless. The beauty of your photographs is just timeless. I am waiting for my treasure to come back from being matted and framed. I shall treasure it forever!
Hug,
Susie ~
P.s. What a lovely photograph of the photographer too. :)
Oh Georgianna, your photos are just amazing! They truly capture the essence of the place and I can very well recognize it as Monet's garden. So lucky for you to be able to visit the place, and thank you for taking us to a virtual trip there :)
Sigh. A simply delightful series, Georgianna. Your processing is perfect for each and every picture. I feel you really captured the essence of what you saw. And it's a treat to see your smiling, beautiful face to cap it all off! I enjoyed this post immensely.
So sensitive and truly beautiful!
I deeply respect how your photos always reflect the true beauty of a garden without you as the photographer dominating the surroundings.
It feels like you somehow become one with the scene and respect it in every way.
This serenity is such a wonderful aspect of your work dear Georgianna.
Thank you, with love from Holland,
xxx sas
wow…Looks like fairy land… Absolutely stunning images… soo dreamy….
Wow, so beautiful, dear G! Your photography looks like painting itself! And the poppies are enchanting! Happy to see you, too, a beautiful Flower Fairy! ;)
And here I was thinking ranunculus were my favorite flower. Till I saw Monet's poppies through your lens. And you. You are so beautiful, my friend.
There are no words. You have outdone yourself with these!
These photographs are absolutely gorgeous. You have created such beautiful effects that Monet himself would be in awe.
Karen
Simply stunning collection of images…lovely! And you beautiful too :)
Georgianna, I'm seeing so many places I have only read about & seen pictures/paintings of through your eyes & your lense & most importantly through your voice. And thank you for sharing a photograph of yours. You are truly beautiful :)
Breathtaking. How wonderful that you had the opportunity to photograph this magical place. (I’ve come to your blog via a mention on The White Bench”.)