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Orchid Species+REPOST
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Orchid Species+REPOST

by Catherine Reilly

Gallery: FloraPosted January 12, 20151,097 views11 comments
This plant is part of the Clise Orchid Collection donated to the Volunteer Park Conservatory, Seattle, c. 1921. It's an early hybrid variety, and I'm sorry I couldn't maneuver to where I could catch the name of it. Spent a lot of time enthralled with its gangly growth habit and wondering how best to capture it among the steady stream of people passing through and the bright sun and all. Then in the blink of an eye, the crowd cleared out and the light changed giving me one spotlit blossom. I tell you I was so excited I felt like I was onto 'big game' on an African Safari! So please let me know if excitement got the best of me or does this look alright?

D750 on tripod, 105/2.8 micro with circ.pol., f 3.2 @ 1/2000 with -1.67 ev. The black bg was rendered in-camera, no flash; and I was trying to make the background flower, as close as it was to the subject, fade into a ghostly echo of its peer.

Sure appreciate your comments and suggestions. Thanks.

Comments

11 comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on January 12, 2015 at 8:51 AM
Catherine: I think your excitement was absolutely warranted! The lighting is perfect for the subject and I really like how you rendered the BG flower. About the only thing that might improve this for me would be to carefully clone away the stem exiting the top. Still a marvelous capture of a marvelous moment. >=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments
Comment posted by scott lanz on January 12, 2015 at 10:06 PM
Terrific capture of this striking orchid, Catherine. I like the echo in the bg. I'll 2d Bill's suggestion re cloning the stem between the flower and the top. Nice work regardless.
Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments
Comment posted by Alberto Patiño on January 12, 2015 at 11:09 PM
The ghostly echo makes for a truly great background. I also like very much the spot of light that you caught on the white petal. I agree about trying to remove the stem going up, it will also help enhance the ghost :toast:
Registered on December 2, 2014, 278 Posts, 1736 Comments
Comment posted by Catherine Reilly on January 13, 2015 at 5:59 AM
It's unanimous! Out with the stem! And made a few little touch-ups…
Registered on August 16, 2006, 603 Posts, 9192 Comments
Comment posted by Michael Lowe on January 13, 2015 at 12:59 PM
Everything looks great in the repost and u certainly bagged the big game. :toast:
Registered on February 11, 2004, 777 Posts, 5252 Comments
Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on January 13, 2015 at 7:24 PM
The repost is a great subtraction and addition with the clone and touchup. Bravo! :toast:
Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments
Comment posted by Bernie Kasper on January 13, 2015 at 8:11 PM
Awesome image Catherine, love the re post and the subject as well, beautiful work !! :smile:
Registered on June 5, 2005, 251 Posts, 3734 Comments
Comment posted by Barb Pflaum on January 13, 2015 at 11:05 PM
I love the way the bg flower echos the subject. Very beautiful image and the repost is even better.
Registered on January 14, 2009, 316 Posts, 2724 Comments
Comment posted by Giuseppe Guadagno on January 14, 2015 at 3:48 PM
Catherine, the re-post is an excellent portrait of this beautiful flower. My minimal contribution: the petal more evident for its high luminosity is out of focus and it could help lowering its light, may be. I don't know if you agree. Catherine, I love the image anyway.
Registered on February 3, 2007, 827 Posts, 5052 Comments
Comment posted by Ian Wolfenden on January 15, 2015 at 10:13 AM
Have to agree - better, Catherine, without the stem. And then quite gorgeous ! Lovely lighting which draws the eye in to the flower so well, and a delightful composition with the ` echo' in the background.
Registered on May 18, 2007, 1108 Posts, 7647 Comments
Comment posted by Bill Fach on January 15, 2015 at 5:18 PM
Catherine: Just what the doctor ordered on the repost. Most excellent. >=))>
Registered on November 1, 2003, 1805 Posts, 26981 Comments