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Bee Orchid


Bee Orchid
Photo Information
Copyright: howard shirley (gerbilratz) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 364 W: 0 N: 996] (3162)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-20
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Sigma 105mm F2.8 DG macro, Tiffen 58mm UV PROTECTOR USA
Exposure: f/13.0, 1/1000 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-06-21 4:03
Viewed: 352
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Bee Orchid - Ophrys apifera

A most attractive orchid 6" high whose swollen unspurred flower lip bears a close resemblance to the rear of a small bumble bee (apparently) whilst visiting the flower. The narrow leaves are oval and rise up the stem a few flowers form on a spike point bright pink sepals, narrow square tipped green petals and the furry brown lip. A pale U surrounds a square honey coloured patch and an appendage which is normally tucked right under and out of sight.

This is a relatively rare British flower but can be found commonly local in distribution. Grows on chalk lime soils preferring grassy open spaces, can be shade tolerant but does not thrive in these conditions. They thin out going Northwards in their distribution. This is one of a cluster found on the border between a private wood and a maintained golf course. There are no browsing grazing animals, no herbicides and the grass surrounding is rough cropped forming an ideal habitat.

These plants are fully protected by law both for digging and picking and carry a hefty fine to the perpetrator. Therefore the location of this species remains a guarded secret.

This was imaged cloudy overcast sky, at approximately 06.00am.

ISO 100
shutter 1/1000
f/13

I think these figures are correct but I have been using a recently purchased macro ring light that adjusts accordingly to its requirements, shutter speed therefore shows 1/250.

This image was hand held, manual focus with macro flash ring for fill. Image as is no cropping just mild sharpening before sizing for upload.

I have not been on the web site of late because of commitments undertaking a bio-diversity study of the local flora and fauna.
eng55, Argus, Necipp, mariki, Ishi, zulfu, nglen, xTauruSx, boreocypriensis, Royaldevon, Gert-Paassen, Jamesp, bahadir, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To marhowie: Bee Orchidgerbilratz 1 06-22 13:45
To Jamesp: orchidgerbilratz 2 06-22 02:45
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 353 W: 3 N: 376] (1127)
  • [2008-06-21 4:10]

Hi Howard,
Very nice close up.Well seen and composed.POV,colors,exposure and details are perfect.
Thanks for posting.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2615 W: 133 N: 7512] (23431)
  • [2008-06-21 4:34]

Hello Howard,
A superb capture of the Bee Orchid flower with excellent technical quality.
The use of flash has brought out the colours well and created a black BG that provides a contrast that shows the flower up very well if one accepts the 'night-time' effect. There again, this flower does not change shape at night time, so why not?
A fine and beautiful image, Howard, and thanks for sharing it.
Have a good weekend,
Ivan

Amazing orchid looks just like a bee as the name suggests. Fine detail and sharpness rgds Necip

Hello Howard,

Superb picture of this orchid. Great sharpness and splendid colours. Excellent composition with a black background.
Cheers,
Mariki

  • Great 
  • Ishi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 103 W: 0 N: 500] (1900)
  • [2008-06-21 7:36]

Welcome back, Howaard!

Lovely specimen and excellent capture!

Please compare to specimens I captured here in March, and note the difference in marking and shape of labellum.

Cheers!

Ishi

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 528 W: 0 N: 95] (585)
  • [2008-06-21 9:49]

Hello Howard,
Perfect macro shot of this beautiful orchid. TFS. Greetings,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1995 W: 5 N: 5588] (21102)
  • [2008-06-21 9:52]

Hi Howard. Good to se you. A very nice shot of the Bee Orcid . You have very fine detail and rich colours. astands out so well against the black BG.well done tFS.
Nick..

Hello Howard, perfect macro of this splendid orchid species. TFS. Regards,
Deniz

Hi Howard, welcome back with a well-fit your excelent macro-photographic accumulation my friend! Great details, wonderful DOF and POV and great subject, this extermely beautiful orchid. TFS this beauty my friend! Have a great weekend!
Cheers,

bayram

Hello Howard,

This is a cracker!
The details are very well displayed and how well they show up against the contrasting, dark b/g.

Kind regards,
Bev ;-)

Hello Howard,

Great macroshot from this beautiful orchid.
Very good pov,dof and BG.


Gert

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
  • [2008-06-21 14:37]
  • [+]

Hi Howard

A wondeful shot of this orchid which I have only seen in the wild once. Great focus and lighting - you have caught the texture very well.

James

Hello Howard
what a beautiful flower and perfect capture. TFS. Regards, Bahadır

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1004 W: 6 N: 2717] (10087)
  • [2008-06-21 16:26]

Hi Howard,a fantastic macro as your wonderfull style,the details and the colors are perfects,i like a lot your choice of the black background! Thanks for share,Luciano

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2470 W: 168 N: 7478] (23630)
  • [2008-06-22 1:45]

Hello Howard,
Brilliant capture of the beautiful Bee Orchid that I've seen once in Dorset. The colours and details are most impressive! Nicely framed too.
Many thanks, Ulla

Hi Howard, splendid orchid with fantastic colors, lovely dark BG, great details and excellent sharpness, very well done, have a good week end, ciao Silvio

Good Morning Howard,
There is not a sprig of grass that shoots uninteresting to me.
~Thomas Jefferson

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