Palm House
Built in the mid-19th century, the Palm House at Kew Gardens is a stunning example of Victorian wrought-iron and curved glass architecture, its sweeping oval form reflected beautifully in the ornamental pond that stretches out in front of it. The reflection shot is the obvious starting point, especially from low down at the pond's edge using a wide angle lens to capture both the glasshouse and its mirror image in calm conditions. Shooting from the formal rose garden steps gives you a classic symmetrical composition with the pond as a leading element. Early morning on a weekday is ideal, when soft diffused light wraps the pale ironwork and crowds are minimal. Overcast skies actually work well here, preventing harsh glare off the glass. The interior also rewards photographers with lush tropical canopy layers and dramatic upward perspectives through the curved glazing. (Kew, London, United Kingdom)
