Subject: Garden Cottage, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Submission for PSA Group 36
APRIL 2026
Location: Boothbay, Maine
Shot: October 19, 2025
Photographer: Grace Dunklee Cohen
Gear: Apple iPHone SE
Settings: 1/620 - f / 1.8, ISO 20 handheld
Editing: Lightroom Classic
The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is a lovely spot along the coast of Maine to view native and unusual plants, amidst rolling grounds, mature trees and wide-open spaces. This cute little garden cottage brought back fond memories of the children’s books my grandmother used to send from England. I could almost envision Mr. McGregor chasing Peter Rabbit out of the adjoining shed and through these gardens.
I tried numerous angles and crops to find a most pleasing shot. Although I loved the domed door straight-on, the side-angle shot really shows the novel shingles and kitty-headed fence.
Post-shoot editing includes some sky and structure masking, light adjustments (warming) and dehaze to add color structure and depth, as well as some cropping, and adjustments to exposure, vibrance, highlights, and shadows.
6 comments posted
Larry Treadwell
What a lovely little scene. The building with its natural roof is quite unique. The stone walls with the wooden window frames and the living roof offer lots of opportunity to dis[play textures. I think the camera angle is about perfect. If you were lower the fence posts would block the windows. There is such a variety blooming flowers that I wish you had brought out those colors in post to provide some life to the scene. To me it seems a a bit soft, almost misty but it is too late in the day for that foggy mist top show.
I just had an after thought. The left side has several partial building showing. I'm wondering if you physically moving to the right and thus hiding those buildings behind the subject cottage would make the cottage a stronger subject if it stood alone? Posted: 04/04/2026 21:07:36
Tracy Kaminer
What a cute cottage. I understand how this evokes Peter Rabbit. It's cheerful and that fence--wow. So much fun. I wonder how it would look if you darkened the dark part of the cottage just a little to give it some contrast with the white trim and white fence. Alternatively, you could darken the greens just a bit. A feel good photo. Posted: 04/05/2026 12:57:13
Michael Jack
I think you got the right angle on the little cottage which shows the design and details. The open fence lets the eye wander in the image versus being blocked by a fence. I agree with Larry about eliminating the other buildings. To my eye, there is a little bright white distraction on the right side and maybe even a person so I would consider removing those or cropping in a bit from the right. Posted: 04/05/2026 18:58:44
Barbara Gore
Hi Grace. Tracy nailed it with the Peter Rabbit vibe. The angle works compositionally, and the partial house on the left paired with the surrounding gardens creates a fairytale village feel. I love the light and airy processing as it adds to the magic and location charm. Posted: 04/07/2026 14:18:56
Adi Ben-Senior
This is a beautiful picture. The edit is spot on, in particular I think the high key and warmth add much to it. The crop is a rather interesting. It works well although a normal landscape will work as well. Its pleasing and interesting. Very well done.
Posted: 04/16/2026 16:02:27
Bill Peake
I really love the cute cottage, Grace. What is growing in the roof? I thought it was moss at first but on closer inspection it is some sort of flower. That's really cool. The fence with the cats on top really rounds out the cuteness factor. I agree with the others that the image could use more contrast and perhaps saturation, the colors and lighting appear a bit flat. The extra out buildings don't bother me and I think add to the charm of the image. Posted: 04/16/2026 20:03:42
