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Orchid gift
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Orchid gift

by Carolyn Derstine

Gallery: FloraPosted February 18, 2013152 views18 comments
I recently received this orchid as a gift and immediately did an indoor photo shoot. What a fun afternoon I had taking many photos! My first experience photographing orchids. :smile:

I set the plant on a bay window with black felt behind it. There was a picture window to the right providing lighting plus room lighting and lighting from the top of the bay window. I also did some pictures with a white background--more high key--and some with off-camera flash. I may post some of these others at a later point.

Canon Rebel T1i. 180mm macro lens. F/18 for 1 sec. ISO 100. Tripod mounted, natural lighting.

Comments

18 comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on February 18, 2013 at 3:08 PM
This is terrific, Carolyn! The orchids are lovely by themselves, but the rim lighting and back lighting really boost them. High key should work with this, but the black BG is hard to beat. :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Chris Grabski on February 18, 2013 at 3:29 PM
Carolyn I like your composition and I think the light works really well. Beautiful image. :smile:
Registered on April 29, 2011, 122 Posts, 431 Comments
Comment posted by Lucy VanSwearingen on February 18, 2013 at 4:59 PM
For your first orchid, I'd say you've exceeded your own expectations. I love the BG and the soft light. But, the flower is in perfect focus. :wavey: :toast:
Registered on May 23, 2009, 800 Posts, 2042 Comments
Comment posted by Eirini Pajak on February 18, 2013 at 5:09 PM
I really like the lighting you used here, the colors are vivid & the comp is great! Excellent portrait!
Registered on December 13, 2011, 216 Posts, 1671 Comments
Comment posted by Daniel & Loana on February 18, 2013 at 5:15 PM
Wonderful shot, Carolyn. Perfect light and colours. I like the black BG too!

D&L
Registered on October 7, 2008, 166 Posts, 3044 Comments
Comment posted by Skip Layman on February 18, 2013 at 6:50 PM
There is so much depth to the Phaleanopsis blossoms that if is very hard to get good DOF. I've tried many times and never did this well. You did a great job with this. :smile:
Registered on November 1, 2003, 558 Posts, 1704 Comments
Comment posted by Floyd Hopper on February 18, 2013 at 7:15 PM
I agree with everyone. Great image. The back lighting creates a masterul piece.
Registered on May 1, 2009, 652 Posts, 762 Comments
Comment posted by Gary Yeoh on February 18, 2013 at 7:27 PM
Carolyn:

A very beautiful Phaleonopsis image for sure. The lighting here is terrific with the back light making these blooms glow :jump: Top notch image. Look forward to seeing other versions of this.
Registered on September 1, 2009, 588 Posts, 8184 Comments
Comment posted by Albert Darmo on February 18, 2013 at 9:28 PM
Hi Carolyn :wavey: The perfect lighting conditions shown here have produced a delightful capture. the colors and detail are captivating :cool: :smile:
Albert Darmo
Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments
Comment posted by Wayne Jones on February 18, 2013 at 11:21 PM
Wow, that sounds like fun, and the results are gorgeous. The back-lighting creates a wonderful depth, and accentuates the translucence of the petals.
Registered on April 18, 2007, 953 Posts, 6435 Comments
Comment posted by Tim Butler on February 19, 2013 at 8:01 AM
I love orchids and your image of this one is exceptional!
Registered on October 12, 2012, 17 Posts, 155 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on February 19, 2013 at 9:07 AM
This looks like a close relative of one of our orchids with the yellow/pink petals. It's a beautiful group of blooms and buds angled nicely across the frame. A high key version will be interesting. I also wonder about other dark, but not black backgrounds. Congrats, your now the "parent", :smile:, of an orchid, they take careful care to stay in good condition, but are well worth it.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on February 19, 2013 at 9:18 PM
Well done, Carolyn. Beautiful lighting on the subject.
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Craig Strand on February 20, 2013 at 3:24 PM
I love the soft lighting and dark BG. DOF is very nice.
Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments
Comment posted by Larry Lynch on February 21, 2013 at 11:29 AM
Terrific lighting and detail and colors are exceptionally fine. Makes one to keep looking and enjoy your presentation. :toast:
Registered on September 16, 2006, 773 Posts, 9940 Comments
Comment posted by Morris McClung on February 21, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Wonderful color and excellent backlighting. Very well done.
Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments
Comment posted by Giuseppe Guadagno on February 21, 2013 at 5:54 PM
What a beauty Carolyn! It's very difficult to make an orchid even more beautiful of what it is in nature. Splendid the effect of many lighting points from different sources.
Cheers.
Registered on February 3, 2007, 827 Posts, 5052 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on February 23, 2013 at 9:28 AM
Carolyn: I'm going through the gallery in reverse order so I saw the high key version first. I like it a lot but this one is exceptional because of the lighting and the glow of the petals. Striking image! >=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments