Lush Life

Interview with photographer Stacy Bass

Green thumbs with a penchant for extraordinary natural spaces should get In the Garden, a new book by Stacy Bass, who shot the cover story for this issue and is staff photographer for athome. Her book (available at Elm Street Books in New Canaan and Barrett Bookstore in Darien, and written by Suzanne Gannon) showcases eighteen of New England’s top private gardens, many of which were scouted and photographed for exclusive stories in this magazine and its sister publications.

We talked with Bass to learn more about the project.

Her Chosen Career: As with many good things, my decision to become a garden photographer happened by chance. In 2004, when my youngest child was headed for kindergarten, I decided to turn my passion for photography into a profession. Her Big Break: A link to my new website found its way to the inbox of talented art director Amy Vischio at Moffly Media. She asked me to photograph the gardens at a home overlooking Long Island Sound. Although not confident of my technical prowess at the time, I was taken with the subject matter. Since then, I’ve photographed more than fifty gardens.

Professional Quirk:  I shoot at dawn whenever possible. There’s something magical about being out there when the sun is ready to rise. Morning light is very seductive.

One Memorable Assignment: While making the image shown on the cover of the book, the garden was filled with the sounds of a Puccini aria. The music enhanced what was already an exquisite morning.