There are many weekends when I search the stores for nice looking floral specimens that have photographic potential. I try to keep working all through the winter months, attempting to stay in practice and keep whatever creative activity as a nature photographer I have in the forefront.
Sitting idle photographically during winter, it becomes harder to get into the swing of things when spring comes and new growth throughout the landscape shows its face.
I would imagine most nature photographers read, write and study on those cold days when the snow is piled high and the temperatures plummet. Some of us continue to find something interesting to explore in their viewfinders.
Oncidium Mendenhall Hildos Orchid 11x17 Giclee Print
So, anyway, I was in a flower shop and saw some exotic orchids that looked pretty interesting. Most of the time, you get to choose between a colorful Dendrobium and a choice Phalaenopsis.
Today, Cheryl, a master gardener and florist, introduced me to two new orchids I hadn’t seen before. First, was a bright creamy yellow Brassia Verrucosa. They were spider like with long slender petals. Clustered blossoms were spread along a twenty inch stem.
The other orchid was an Oncidium hybrid called a Mendenhall Hildos. It had a single elongated flower with yellow-brown petals and three inch long antennae. This one had more of a flying alien appearance and it piqued my interest.
Cheryl the kind florist, offered to let me photograph the Oncidium. Excited, I raced back home and picked up my camera gear and returned in minutes.
It was busy in the store upon my return. Understandably, I did not seek to interfere with business but I wanted to use the occasion to photograph that Orchid.
Oncidium Hildos Hybred Orchid 11x17 Giclee Print
I had a small space against a bright glaring window about three feet from the glass. I put up a black piece of poster board for a backdrop and began to find a workable composition with the natural bright light. With only fifteen to twenty minutes to work with I acted fast.
It was almost like working as a photojournalist again. Think fast, know your equipment, previsualize and go for it.
With set up and six exposures I was dismantling on that twenty minute sweep of the hand on her clock.
It was an opportunity and challenge I had to take. It was fun. Best of all I made a new friend added another image to my portfolio and furthered the possibility of another photo session.
Next time I will hope for thirty minutes and see how that goes. The idea is to just keep practicing with every prospect.
Photographs used in this post are copyrighted by Wayne Scherr, Range of Vision Photography, 2010, All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any manner is prohibited without the written permission of Wayne Scherr, Range of Vision Photography. My image catalog can be viewed at http://www.rangeofvisionphotos.com. You can contact me through this blog or through email at: wayne@rangeofvisionphotos.com
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