In About Kew

John Millar

John MillarJohn became a freelance photographer in the same month as the Great Storm, and in the 19 years since has been blown all over the world and snapped thousands of people. But it's not the who or the where that he thinks makes being a photographer so invigorating, it's the perpetual variety that keeps the wind in his sails. John has been coming to Kew for years, so when he was first commissioned “out of the blue” to take photographs for Kew magazine, he says he couldn't have been more delighted. He has, rather conveniently, taken root in Twickenham with his wife Rachel and their expanding family. He rides a motorcycle and sometimes wears a hat.

“I already knew the Gardens from countless family trips, but taking portrait shots has allowed me to meet the great characters that work here. I had no idea just how many of them there are, beavering away behind the scenes. It has added a whole new dimension; but I still come for pleasure with my family and no camera.”

www.johnnymillar.com

At work in the Herbarium, Kew by John Millar
At work in the Herbarium, Kew

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Gwilym Lewis, botanist and legume expert (peas, beans, lupins and many more) entwined in wisteria – another legume by John Millar
Gwilym Lewis, botanist and legume expert

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Wolfgang Stuppy, seed morphologist, with colleague Elly Vaes, in the lab at Wakehurst by John Millar
Wolfgang Stuppy, seed morphologist, with colleague Elly Vaes, in the lab at Wakehurst

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In the Millennium Seed Bank by John Millar
In the Millennium Seed Bank

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Behind the scenes in the Alpine Nursery by John Millar
Behind the scenes in the Alpine Nursery

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Behind the scenes in the Alpine Nursery by John Millar
Behind the scenes in the Alpine Nursery

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Behind the scenes in the Alpine Nursery by John Millar
Behind the scenes in the Alpine Nursery

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In the Alpine Nursery by John Millar
In the Alpine Nursery

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Behind the scenes in the Alpine Nursery by John Millar
Behind the scenes in the Alpine Nursery

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Margaret Ramsay, head of Micropropagation, checks young orchids by John Millar
Margaret Ramsay, head of Micropropagation, checks young orchids

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The growth room, Micropropagation Unit, Kew by John Millar
The growth room, Micropropagation Unit, Kew

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Horticultural volunteers by John Millar
Horticultural volunteers

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Backstage in the Marine Display at Kew by John Millar
Backstage in the Marine Display at Kew

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Backstage in the Marine Display at Kew by John Millar
Backstage in the Marine Display at Kew

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Backstage in the Marine Display at Kew by John Millar
Backstage in the Marine Display at Kew

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Paul Smith, botanist and conservationist, is head of the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place in Sussex. By 2010, the Seed Bank will have stockpiled 10 per cent of the world’s flora; the next challenge is to raise enough awareness and money to co by John Millar
Paul Smith, botanist and conservationist, is head of the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst Place

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Underwater world: Kew’s marine biologist Pete Morris takes the plunge by John Millar
Kew’s marine biologist Pete Morris

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Backstage in the Marine Display at Kew by John Millar
Backstage in the Marine Display at Kew

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Tony Kirkham, head of the Arboretum and horticultural services. Tony’s passion for and expert knowledge of trees means he’s in demand as a TV presenter and author too by John Millar
Tony Kirkham, head of the Arboretum and horticultural services

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Horticultural volunteers at Kew work throughout the Gardens by John Millar
Horticultural volunteers at Kew work throughout the Gardens

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Horticultural volunteers by John Millar
Horticultural volunteers

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John Dransfield, one of the world’s leading palm experts, was head of palm research at Kew until he retired in 2005. He is now an honorary research fellow and continues to be a highly respected member of the scientific community by John Millar
John Dransfield, one of the world’s leading palm experts

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Belinda Parry, co-ordinator of volunteers. About 500 volunteers carry out invaluable work at Kew; Belinda runs the scheme and still finds time to write for <em>Kew</em> magazine by John Millar
Belinda Parry, co-ordinator of volunteers

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Horticultural volunteers at Kew work throughout the Gardens by John Millar
Horticultural volunteers at Kew work throughout the Gardens

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Creating herbarium specimens, a job that's continued at Kew for centuries by John Millar
Creating herbarium specimens

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Tony Kirkham rides the Pagoda Vista by John Millar
Tony Kirkham rides the Pagoda Vista

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© Images are copyright of the individual named photographers