Summer Stripes
Canon 40D, 180mm macro lens.
(36 Favourings Nov 09, 612 views)
FINALIST – INTERNATIONAL GARDEN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2009
Can be seen in display at Kew Gardens until September 2009. (My thanks and appreciation to Jacky for taking these exhibition photos for me!)




I’m so excited and proud and delighted to announce that this image is one of the Finalists in the International Garden Photographer of the Year Competition 2009. A dream come true for me!
Featured in ‘The English Garden’ magazine – June 2009 issue.
Featured in ‘What Digital Camera’ magazine – July 2009 issue.
International Garden Photographer of the Year



See also Commended image in National Insect Week Photography Competition 2008:

FOCUS & LIGHTING CHALLENGE WIN – August 2009
Summer Stripes belongs to the following groups:
All Things Orange Artwork Gallery, ! 100% !, ** Super Macro Photography (Two Per Day ), **FOCUS and LIGHTING**, All Animals Great And Small., All things in the Natural World, Animal Kingdom, Backyard Macro and Closeups (3 a day), Bee & Wasp Passions, Birds and Creatures of Flight, Butterflies, Skippers, Moths, & Other Winged Insects (2 a Day), Canon DSLR (One Image Per Day & A Canon Camera Must Be In The Description Before It's Accepted), Canon Vs Nikon (1 per day!), Depth Of Field (2 images per day) - Read Group Rules Please, DSLR Users Only - 1/24 - Camera & Lens In Description Please., Extreme Close-Ups, Freedom to Shine, Gorgeous Flower Cards, High Quality Animal Images - 1 Submission a Week, Insects, Bugs and Creepy Crawlies (2 A Day), Just Pure Nature., Live, Love, Dream: May you have a Blessed Christmas Season , Made By Nature - {2 a day} - {challenge theme only!}, Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, Nature's Wonders, The Beauty of Nature (Nothing Man-Made), The Top Favorite Group - 30 or more, The Woman Photographer **7 Submissions a week only please**, Unlimited Quality, Vibrant Plants and Yellow Two Available for sale asGreeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints

Jan Piller
Whoa!!!! gorgeous image!! Does it ever pop!!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Lol! Thank you, Jan!
BigD
Fantastic macro
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, BigD!
Elizabeth Bravo
BEAUTIFUL!!!!! What a shot!!!!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Elizabeth!
Charles Dobbs ...
Awesome!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Charles!
Pat Moore
WOW this is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Pat!
Aaron Murgatroyd
Great shot! Love the way the hoverfly blends with the colours on the flower!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thanks, Aaron, yes that’s what attracted me to take the shot.
Rainy
Wonderful work!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Rainy!
toby snelgrove...
wooh … this is over the top … well deserved … sharp, great depth of field … well composed … such a moment …
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thanks, Toby! And funnily enough, when I entered it I felt it was a standard shot compared to a couple of the others I’d submitted.
Jacky Parker
Wow Sarah and double celebration! well done, I told you this was a great eye-catching image lol :)) Happy days!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Hi again, Jacky! Funny how we don’t see our own work as others see it. Let’s do the Kew dance together!
Cathy Jacobs
Beautiful!!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Cathy!
Bonnie Pelton
FANTASTIC CLOSE-UP ! CONGRATS ON YOUR FEATURE
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Bonnie!
AFogArty
Excellent shot, really magnificent work!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you!
hannibalannie
Well done … this work deserves every accolade. stunning
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you so much!
Bunny Clarke
Magnificent colors and details. Splendid macro!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Bunny!
kathy s gillen...
congratulations on being featured in the Canon DSLR group
your hosts at Canon DSLR
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you so much, Kathy!
NATURELENS
SUPERB, in every way
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you!
janetlee
It’s so 3-D! Very cool! What lense did you use?
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Hi Janet, I used a 180mm macro. Thanks for your comments!
GlennB
One stand out image!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Yes, it is quite eye-catching, lol!
Kieron Nolan
Fantastic image, reminds me of sun loungers my family had years ago, they were a similar pattern!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Kieron!
Scott d'Almeida
fabulous;
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Scott!
LYN EVANS
WOW…incredible detail
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Lyn!
Lesley Smither...
This is a fantastic shot – well done!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Lesley!
Brunoboy
Wow!! Great picture. Such vibrant colours.
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Yes, it does kind’ve grab your attention, lol!
enchantedImages
A well deserved honor.
This is a stunning photo.
Congrats!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you so much!
Josie Eldred
Absolutely spectacular capture!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you very much, Josie!
PPV247
Outstanding work and well deserved finalist image.
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you so much!
naturelover
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
I’m thrilled!
Arek Rainczuk
Magnificent, congrats on Top10
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Arek!
wildimagenation
Wow!!! Into my favourites it goes…
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you!
Pat Yager
Congratulations on your having attained the post of Finalist! This is a wonderful portrait! – Pat
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you so much, Pat, glad you like it!
lorilee
Wow!!!!! Fabulous colors and details!!!!!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thanks, Lorilee!
Marion Cullen
Congratulations on your challenge win, this is a stunning image and certainly got my vote.
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you so much Marion, I really appreciate your vote!
lilian marshall
This is a fantastic picture Well done!!!!! .
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Lilian!
James Godber
FABULOUS. No wonder you’ve been recognised in competition. Great work!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, James!
hatterasjack
Fantastic photo Sarah, this is sooo good that I’m speechless.
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you so much for your feedback!
LumenLux
This is the photo that stops me in my tracks! Thanks for making and sharing this great image.
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
I really appreciate your feedback, thank you so much!
Steve Buffington
Congrats on your challenge win. Most unique bee shot I have seen. It smokes.
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you so much, Steve, much appreciated!
John Vandeven
Just Stunning….
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, John!
Angela Lance
Wow, awesome shot, congratulations!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Angela!
riverotter
STUNNING image! Wow, amazing shot … congratulations!!!!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Emily!
Macky
Congrats on your win, well deserved!!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Macky!
Jodie Bennett
What a great shot. And congratulation on winning.
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you!
29Breizh33
Stunning image well captured. Congratulations.
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you!
Andrea Searle
What an amazing capture! Congratulations for all your success with it.
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you so much, Andrea!
janetmarston
WOW! Wonderful shot
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you!
mnkreations
very well deserved! exquisite!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you!
stagni
is wonderful, fabulous, the clear and the colors of the photos are perfect
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you for your feedback, Stagni!
Melissa Fiene
This is something else, wow, perfect symmetry.
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Melissa!
Jacky Parker
Very well deserved Sarah, a wonderful image which is also featured in this months English Garden Magazine – very well done! :))))
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Really? Oh, wow! Hope I can get a copy up here in Scotland. I really appreciate you letting me know. Do let me know if yours or ours are featured in any other magazines etc.
Hannah Fenton-...
This placed in the top ten in a challenge in
Bee and wasp passions
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
I’m delighted! Thanks to all who voted. x
Peter Denness
Well Done on the win, excellent image
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Many thanks, Peter!
Josie Eldred
Hi Sarah,
I would love to see this in the new group, Unlimited Quality
Josie :)
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Josie – I have added it to your group!
earthangel
Brilliant shot congratulations
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, earthangel!
oddoutlet
Wowee- Congratulations, sure is an amazing capture- Good luck with it!!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you so much!
conniecrayon
Great colours ..Excellent capture (O:
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you, Connie!
Kathy Reid
Wow… amazing image, Congratulations on your win!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you very much, Kathy!
DaRkSiLeNcE
wooo now, that’s extremely impressive!! you deserve the awards & the creditation!! truly amazing!!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you for your lovely comments!
Jacky Parker
Well done Sara, your image really stood out and was lovely to see everywhere in Kew, I’m not surprised they used it as their signature, happy days :)))))
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Well done to you too, Jacky – I bet your so excited that your photo is on the cover of the book! I can’t thank you enough for taking those pics for me. Really made my weekend! :)
Mandy Fox
OMG!! This is FABULOUS!!
Sarah-fiona Helme replied
Thank you so much, Mandy!
Annie J Lemay
I am in awe…..totally…...beauuuuuuuuuutiful!
Beth Mason
I can’t say anything that hasn’t been said already, but this is absolutely incredible!
bubbleblue
Excellent
artist4peace
kick azzzzzzzzzzzzz
John Vandeven
OMG….That is an outstanding image…....Well done.
Virginia N. Fred
Fabulous capture and congratulations on your achievements..gina
shaneran
WONDERFUL!! congratulations on all your honors and I just noticed this is in the top ten in expressing yourself in photography in FREEDOM TO SHINE group!!
congratulations!!
FlowersEtc
Congratulations. Your Focus and Lighting Challenge Excellence Award will follow. You may print the certificate and frame it if you like.
Ann
FlowersEtc
Bob Wickham
This is stunningly good. Congratulations on all the success this image has enjoyed.