Orchids

Orchids are one of my favorite flowers.  They are SO impressive with their vibrant colors and unique patterns.  They are also very challenging to photograph!  Sometimes, you just don't have a lot of choice when it comes to lighting.  It depends on what time of day you are shooting and the position of the orchid.  (So far, I have resisted the urge to reposition the flower for a more favorable light.)  My best shots, so far, are backlit orchids with lots of nice bokeh in the background.  Here's an example:

f/4.0, ISO 160

The best place to take pictures of orchids is at a botanical garden.  Local fairs are also great, as they display many different kinds of orchids and it is fun to see which ones are judged blue-ribbon worthy.  Some cities have orchid societies that put on excellent orchid shows and plant sales.  Typically, I ask a lot of questions and have learned a lot about caring for orchids this way.  To use good photography etiquette, it is always best to ask for permission to take photos first.  I explain that I plan to sell my photos and ask if that is okay.  Usually, I get a resounding "sure".  Recently, my husband and I took a trip to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida.  The greenhouse was simply stunning, with giddy photographers (me included) walking around with huge smiles on their faces.

I learned from a short video upon entering the gardens, that orchids are epiphytes.  Apparently, Selby gardens has the largest collection in the country.  Epiphytes are plants that grow on another plant without harming it.  They receive their nutrients from the air and rain.  Some other examples of epiphytes are ferns, mosses, lichens and bromeliads.  Below is a picture of a bromeliad and Spanish Moss fountain that you will find at Selby.  I love this idea and hope to replicate it some day.  This would look great in front of my house!

Click HERE to see my Orchids Gallery on Fine Art America.

Click HERE to see other orchid artwork on Fine Art America.  

I hope to go back to Selby Gardens soon, to take more photos and to visit their wonderful gift shop.  It is almost as beautiful as the gardens themselves!  

For information on art classes, photography classes, botany classes, etc, check out Selby.org.  

To learn more about orchids, check out the American Orchid Society.  

If anyone has the name of a good orchid identifier book, I would really appreciate the information.  

Thank you!

Carol

Crater Lake

About 5 years ago, I visited Crater Lake for the first time. It was a beautiful day and I took some nice pictures of my two daughters with the lake in the background. Funny, but I never even dreamed of taking pictures of just the scenery. I was in Mom-mode. In July, my husband and I visited again, this time I was in Photographer-Mode. My goal was to try and capture the amazing blue color and figure out a way to show the vastness of the surrounding mountains. I prayed the whole way that there would be some interesting clouds, to make it just a 'bit' different. Being unique is a challenge, especially when millions of people have stood on the same spot, taking the same picture. I was thrilled to see one storm cloud hanging over the lake. Besides obsessing over this neat cloud, I obsessed over the craggy, weathered trees with lovely silver bark and the patterns in the melting snow.

This second time around, I learned some valuable lessons that I would like to pass on to you. 1. Take mosquito repellent. The melting snow is a breeding ground for massive quantities of these evil little guys. They especially love my husband, who safely stayed in the car and drove me to wherever I wanted to take pictures.
2. The lodge is amazing, but book early if you want to stay there. 3. Do not plan to stay in the area without reservations. It will take you another hour to get back to civilization and you don't want to get stuck without a place to stay. There are bears in them woods! 3. Crater Lake is off the beaten path, but is definitely well worth the trip.

To see more of my Waterscapes on Fine Art America, click HERE.

To see other Waterscapes on Fine Art America, click HERE.

Welcome to My Blog!

Welcome to my photography blog. This is an invitation to walk 'down the garden path' with me....to share my travels through photos and friendship. Please feel free to comment and give tips. All are welcome. My philosophy on life is that you are enriched by learning new things. Currently, I am learning to take the best pictures that I can with my first SLR camera--a Canon Rebel XSi. I also have a Panasonic 'point and shoot' that I love and a Nikon Coolpix 8700. Each has its own special purpose or advantage. The Panasonic is lightweight and great for keeping in my purse at all times. The Nikon also fits in my purse, is a bit heavier, but has more options for manual selections--perfect for daytrips where I will be walking a lot and plan to take lots of pictures. The Canon is the most versatile, but definitely heavier. This is what I use for 'serious' photo days and for walks around my neighborhood.

One of my favorite things to do is hop in the car, with no particular idea of what I want to take pictures of, and just look around until I find something interesting. You should try it. Since taking up photography seriously, I have not been bored. Even in the winter, I have discovered such unusual nature shots that I would have never noticed before. Just look a little closer, and you will 'see' beauty and interest where you never thought it existed.

Thank you for taking the time to read my first blog. Besides this, I am working on a website dedicated to my photography. Check it out at http://www.downthegardenpath.org/. On it, I would like to highlight other photography sites so, if you have one, please send me the link and I will include it.

Carol