What was your best experience in the field covering this story?

I spent two days photographing Prince Charles's gardens at Highgrove. It was a real privilege because no photographer had ever been allowed to take pictures of his garden for a magazine. I had been shooting this story for several weeks and had come to know something about Prince Charles's character by meeting him, hearing about him, and talking to the people who live on his land. But when I photographed his garden, I felt I came to know his personality in another way.

The garden is wild and manicured, quirky and refined, serious and whimsical. Prince Charles actually works in his garden. Every plant, flower, and tree reveals his passionate, meticulous nature. Nothing is planted without his say, and he is very stubborn about what he likes. The result is magnificent. He truly loves his garden. And his gardeners are full of life and curiosity. Some have been at Highgrove for decades, and they're completely down-to-earth. It was truly special to get a glimpse into this very personal, private place.

What was your worst experience in the field covering this story?

Staying in bed and breakfasts isn't good for a photographer trying to capture the early morning light. I always seemed to be going out the door as bacon and eggs were cooking or was eating cold oatmeal in the dark before dawn. Then, at the end of the day, I had to choose between a hot meal and beautiful early evening light. Of course, I had to keep shooting, and because country pubs close early, many a dinner consisted of pre-packaged sandwiches from the gas station or bad Indian takeout eaten while driving to the next bed and breakfast. Since I am, I admit, obsessed with eating well, this was maddening. And, contrary to what people think, the food in England is very, very good.

What was your quirkiest experience in the field covering this story?

After shooting on the River Dart at the Britannia Royal Naval College, my contact at the naval school asked if I was interested in seeing the field gun exercise. I didn't know what he was talking about, but I thought, Why not?

As we came up the bank, the most bizarre sport was being played in front of my eyes. About 40 sweating students from the college were madly racing down a course pushing two field guns, then switching the wheels and muscling the newly wheeled cannons at top speed back up the course again. Meanwhile, the coach was shouting encouragement and screaming from the sidelines.

I was so amused that even though I was staying three hours away in County Cornwall, I drove two more times to Devon to photograph it again. I knew this was a serious sport with lots of history. It was like something out of Monty Python, charmingly British.