Orchid photography resources

[Ecolodger]

Hello everyone 
This is my first post in your great community.
I’m a nature photographer specialized on tourism.  Some friends asked my to prepare them a catalog of Bolivian Orchids, but I’ve only done landscapes and 3D. Does anyone have any resources on butterfly and Orchid photography?

Any help is appreciated

Chris.

[wolfnowl]

Well, flower photography and butterfly photography have some similarities but many differences.  It depends in part on whether you're shooting wild orchids or ones in pots.  Obviously, indoors you can control placement, background, lighting, etc.  Outside you have less control over those factors.  There's also the fact that butterflies move whereas orchids don't (except by wind).  For both you'll need some decent macro equipment; a good tripod is handy but may slow you down if shooting butterflies.  Accessory lighting - twin flash or ring flash for macro work is also handy at times.  Do a search on macro photography and I'm sure you'll find all kinds of resources.  You can also check this thread:  http://www.luminous-landscape.com/forum/index.php?topic=41593.0

Mike.

[Ecolodger]

Hello Mike

It would be outdoors, with no control whatsoever...

[elf]

It kind of depends on what kind of images you want to create and how far you have to carry all of the equipment I would expect most of the orchids will be growing in trees so a fast 70-300mm macro that will go to 1:2 would be my first choice and this would work well for butterflys as well.   It would be even better to add a twin flash cross polarized setup. Being able to have the flashes quite a distance from the camera would be beneficial.  

If you'll be baiting the butterflys (putting sugar solution on flowers), then you can use multiple flashes to get both the subject and the background lighted.



p.s. http://www.photomacrography.net/forum/index.php is a good macro reference site

[Dick Roadnight]

Hello everyone 
This is my first post in your great community.
I’m a nature photographer specialized on tourism.  Some friends asked my to prepare them a catalog of Bolivian Orchids, but I’ve only done landscapes and 3D. Does anyone have any resources on butterfly and Orchid photography?

Any help is appreciated

Chris.

There is a butterfly farm in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire UK, and they might know where to find the info.

[Ecolodger]

Hi folks, I got some nice pics from bolivia....specially from thge butterflies...
How do I post? Here's a permalink to one:   http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/167120_1713730716628_1038980069_31850040_5198562_n.jpg
Here's an orchid:  http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/179064_1714170927633_1038980069_31850756_7089366_n.jpg
Is this ok to post?

Greetings :-)

[wolfnowl]

Blue morphos are very pretty...

Mike.

[elf]

Those look good. Can you post technical details about lens, camera, lighting, etc.?

[Ecolodger]

Hi floks,
Here are the Details for the Morpho:

Sony A700,
Sigma 50mm 2.8 @ 4.0
Iso 400 @ 1/160 Sec
Taken with natural lighting at aprox 20'' distance: Moral of the story....after the rain...the morpho was heating up :-)


I got all other pics on my Fb account

Regards