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Albino Common Spotted Orchid


Albino Common Spotted Orchid
Photo Information
Copyright: Emma Taylor (Aramok) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 896 W: 101 N: 1501] (5166)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-07-23
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II USM, Digital ISO 200, Canon 58mm Skylight 1x
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/500 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Travelogue: Cape Wrath, Outer & Inner Hebridies
Theme(s): Wild Native British Orchids [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-11-21 9:21
Viewed: 5224
Points: 36
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I have to say I have had a little problem identifying this orchid which may sound mad to some people but there we go, but I have finally decided on the rather frequent Common Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza fuchsii), despite the fact that it was growing amongst Frog Orchids and Northern Marsh Orchids, and the Hebridian form of the Northern Marsh Orchid.

It was growing in the Machair on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebridies. This specimen was actually the second albino I found during my stay on the west side of the island, but not the last during my holiday.

For me, it was the first time I had seen a true albino orchid in the wild and I managed to find 3 in one holiday.

For an orchid to be a true albino, it not only has to be free from all markings and white, but also for the pollina to also be white rather than the colour of the normal form, for this orchid, purple. Albino orchids can be distinguished from the white form of an orchid in this manner.

Typically albino orchids tend to be smaller and with less flowers. I'll post a workshop of the other albino I found alongside a 'normal' orchid.

This individual was growing on a hillside above where we were camping and it was actually my husband who saw it. The hillside was covered in orchids of all forms and walking over the hillside required great care. In some areas, they were so numerous that it was almost impossible not to tread on one.

There are plenty of photos of the Common Spotted Orchid, so I will not post any links for more info. If you are interested just search for Dactylorhiza fuchsii and you will find plenty of hits. It is one of, if not the most common orchid in the UK (can't comment on the rest of the world though - sorry).

Anyhow, taken using timer and mirror lockup to reduce camera shake, I was actually not as close as I woudl have liked becuase of the number of other orchids around. It was actually quite difficult to get to the albino orchid without lying on other orchids in the process and I didn't have a longer lens with me...

This is full frame, un-editted, just converted from RAW, resized, sharpened, and a border added.
Lycaon, ramthakur, Alex99, horia, RAP, JeanMichel, pablominto, SunToucher, mikou, PDP, jmp, captainsgirl, peter_stoeckl, XOTAELE has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Emma,

Excellent work, Great details, very crisp, Nicly composed and capture photo,
great colors, BG POV DOF,

TFS Kyle

A great find! And I can imagine the difficulties in identification!!

DOV and POV are excellent, you clearly didn't need a different lens! Beautiful colours too, or shall I say lack of ... ;-)

Knowing about orchids is a novel experience for a layman like me, Emma.
I like this albino orchid; it is so fresh and delicate looking.
Very fine composition, indeed.
Ram

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2006-11-21 11:23]

Hi Emma.
Next your lovely and perfect reproduced flower picture. White colour tones and details of the flower petals are great. DOF and POV are very expressive too. Really poetic elegant work. My compliments.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2158 W: 224 N: 4749] (16656)
  • [2006-11-21 13:44]

Hi Emma

A superb shot of this very beautiful orchid!
The contrast between its flowera and everything else in this frame and the impecable maangement of the light simply brings out the beast of the captured details.
Lovely well saturated in colors, well composed and framed, this is indeed a great picture of this very interesting specimen.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2006-11-21 15:46]

Una simple y bonita composición Emma con bellos detalles, contrastantes colores entre las flores y el entorno y apropiado foco e iluminación.
Aunque el encuadre está centrado sobre la protagonista, los objetos alrededor rompen ese efecto indeseado, brindando una agradable presentación.
Gracias y saludos... Ricardo

A simple and nice composition Emma with beautiful details, contrasting colors between the flowers and the environment and appropriate focus and illumination.
Although the framing is centered on the protagonist, the objects surrounding break that effect undesirable, offering a pleasant presentation.
Thank you and greetings... Ricardo

This orchid, as main subject, is beautiful and particularly well placed in such a delicate soft environment. Colors and light patches are very artistic. It's a superb composition. Congratulations.
Regards
Jean-Michel

Hello Emma,
A beautiful little flower, well captured!
I think we have one or two wild species in Norway too, but they are both rather rare...
Good details and fine colour reproduction!
Greetings,
Pablo -

:-) OK-

Hi Emma,
What a beautiful species. It looks really fragile, but i am sure it is able to survive the harsh weather of Scotland with ease. Great work on the exposure, keeping the white if the flower in perfect condition. I love the composition and DOF, with some foilage in and out of focus. The BG shows the many different flower present in this field.
TFS,
Niek

  • Great 
  • mbasil Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 335 W: 148 N: 745] (3320)
  • [2006-11-23 23:55]

Beauty, Emma. It's a beautiful specimen. Great lighting, too. Something about the setting really makes it seem fragile. Well done.
Mike

  • Great 
  • james (74)
  • [2006-11-24 9:11]

great shot, nice contrasting colors. Excellent focus. Well done.
TFS james

  • Great 
  • dkaved Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 259 W: 17 N: 431] (2114)
  • [2006-11-26 14:11]

Hi Emma,
What a beautiful place it must be with such a rich selection of orchids...I envy you on seeing such a sight.This is a lovely image...orchids are always a pleasure to see.Lovely light and blured colours....the DOF just perfect concentrated on the flower head.Very nice...well done.
Regards, David

hi emma,
beautiful shot,
the colours look lovely,
well composed with nice framing,
good dof, nice pov,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • mikou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 869 W: 68 N: 1479] (6093)
  • [2006-11-29 14:47]

Hi Emma.
I like those very nice composition.Very well saturated white colour.Perfect POV and DOF,very nice blurry background.Beautiful lightings gives very pleasant colours.
Very nice work.
TFS Milos

  •      
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2006-12-01 17:14]

Hello Emma, this is a good shot. You did a great job on the exposure. The composition is nice too as is the BG - well done.

  •      
  • jmp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1659 W: 95 N: 2273] (8415)
  • [2006-12-02 3:00]

Hi Emma,
Very beautiful shot of this lovely orchid. Exposure in whites is perfect, composition and background beautiful and the image is nice to see.
TFS, José M.

Oh Emma this is so beauuutiful! The white flower against the colorful background is so nice. Great POV, DOF and great sharp bright color. love it. TFS
Donna :o)




Thanks for your comments on my photo " The end of the Storm" :o) The little thing in the horizon is actually a ship..I know its small I guess I should of noted that..thanks again! :o)

belle photo,belle fleur,bien nette. Amicalement Thomas Bonne année

Hello Emma,
very pretty documentation of this rare variation of the spotted orchid in beautiful, well shaping soft backlight.
Thanks also for the well informing notes, and the workshop. Fascinating to see that rich vegetation on these northern islands in summer.
With thanks, and best regards,
Peter

Hermosa orquídea, bellos colores de BG, que hacen destacar aun mas la blancura de la flor en primer término.
Un saludo , JL.

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