Photographing dahlias: Form, colour, and the art of attention

Each year, as the garden reaches its late-summer crescendo, the dahlias take centre stage. They’re extraordinary subjects — bold, architectural, and endlessly varied. I've been photographing them for years, fascinated by their shape, and what seems to be endless colour variations.

Each bloom feels like a small piece of sculpture — layers of petals forming near-perfect spheres, each one unique in rhythm and proportion. Their symmetry invites the lens in, but what keeps me there is the subtle irregularity: the way a single petal bends differently, or how colour shifts at the edges as the light changes.

Dahlias are also a masterclass in colour. Few flowers offer such range — from pale pastels to deep reds and purples, and their foliage is a delight too - whether vivid green or deep bronze or copper.

Light is everything. Early morning or late afternoon gives the most honest tones, when the sun sits low and the petals seem to breathe.

At this time of year, when much of the garden begins to fade, dahlias remain strong — structured, unapologetic, and full of energy. They remind me that beauty can be both precise and abundant, measured and exuberant.

What an incredible flower.

Charlotte x