In the cozy library of the Mayflower Inn was one of those serendipitous moments, spending the weekend admiring the awe-inspiring gardens in Washington, CT and picking up a copy of Stacy Bass’ book: Gardens At First Light. Stacy, a celebrated landscape photographer and this book has remained a constant piece of inspiration season after season.

The Garden Reference Guide at the end of the Gardens At First Light provides detailed information on each of the properties photographed for the book. Hand-drawn sketches are by landscape designer James Gerrity.

Gardens At First Light is a luxurious coffee table book featuring 12 gardens; a mix of secret, lush and elegant gardens photographed at dawn in a kaleidoscope of colors and styles. Capturing over 200 beautiful images of exuberant landscapes and verdant spaces, her book also features a garden reference guide with visuals while providing planting palettes and invaluable landscaping how-to components. I (virtually) sat down with Stacy to talk gardens, gardening and how the early bird gets the worm in capturing Mother Nature’s beauty.

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to chat as you are one of the women I admire in this space. Can you tell us a bit about your background?

Happy to have the chance to talk and thank you for your interest in my book. My background may seem a bit surprising in that I had a career as an attorney and in the motion picture business before turning to photography full-time. I had worked as a photographer after college—shooting mostly fine art and architectural abstracts—and was anxious to get back to that once my youngest daughter was ready for kindergarten. I had hoped to shoot interior design and architecture for magazines. Shortly after that, I launched a website and was lucky enough that a well-respected and visionary art director, Amy Vischio, saw it and eventually hired me to shoot a garden for Westport magazine. Though I was drawn to botanicals in more of a fine art context, I had no experience photographing gardens and really, from that very first shoot, I was hooked. I am ever grateful to Amy for that first break that really started me down this “garden” path.

This 1928 classic brick Georgian features an elegant entry court created with granite pavers and a boxwood parterre.

This home includes spectacular views and an equally beautiful perennial gardens.

Do you have any tips for capturing your favorite garden or design elements?

I always recommend shooting at dawn or dusk—and in the time just around each- for the most control; lack of shadows and simply beautiful light. And a tripod! It may seem cumbersome but it’s indispensable. I also suggest looking for something in your composition to anchor the shot: a structure in the garden, a path, a stone wall, sculpture, etc.

What is your criteria for selecting your favorite places to shoot? And this may be an impossible question, but do you have a favorite landscape or project that you are most proud of?

I am really open to shooting gardens in almost every season and context but admit that when the garden happens to also be water or seaside, that makes me especially happy. I am very proud of the garden we made at our home in Connecticut—inspired by so much of what moved me in the spaces I have had the good fortune to visit and photograph.

Gardens At First Light leads our Mother's Day gift guide and is available for sale via Amazon. Stacy Bass also photographs lifestyle, interiors, and architecture for regional and national magazines. To see more of her work, please visit her website, Stacy Bass Photography.