Growing orchids and photography
In today’s article, we attempt to combine these two passions, (and if two hobbies were ever made for each other, then it is most certainly these) based on our own experiences. To be able to grow orchids successfully can take up many years, with a lot of trial and error thrown into the process. It is always advisable to get growing tips from successful growers, especially in the area where you live. The same goes with experimenting in photography, and in particular photographs specializing in plants, and their flowers, in general.
For Ronny Boos, it all started with admiring orchids in gardens and at the local market place. Most of the time, he saw hybrids of the genus Dendrobium, and members of the vandaceous alliance, for sale. On one occasion, he chanced upon a vendor selling orchids, claiming the plants he had for sale to be native orchid species. Ronny took a picture with his inexpensive point and shoot camera only to find out later, that this particular plant was, in fact, a flowering plant of Trichoglottis
geminata, an orchid species found on the island of Leyte (plus many other places within the Philippine archipelago) where he lives.
From that moment on, it was the point of no return. The next logical step was to venture out into the forests of the nearby mountains and waterfalls. Before he knew it, he was passionately entangled in a new world of orchids, photography, and exploration. It is often said that growing orchids is a terrible sickness, disease, or even a virus, for which there is no known cure. Fortunately, this sickness is not fatal, and we don’t know of anyone passing away because of growing orchids.
Regarding cameras, one does not have to invest many thousands of pesos on expensive DSLR cameras, flashes, and lenses to start with, or even to end up with. Nowadays cheaper bridge cameras are readily available, including certain macro lenses which can be attached. Macro photography is then the ultimate “eye-opener,” where one can find himself in a new and bizarre world altogether. All those necessary steps help to propel one forward in gathering more info and data, especially when it comes to identifying orchids.
Social media and online groups can provide a platform to connect with fellow hobbyists and specialists, which can help to refine one’s skills in either way; not to mention the great advantages of making new friends.
YouTube photography tutorials, and internet research can help introduce one to the basics of photography. However, nothing beats field trips with other experienced photographers sharing tips. Practice is the only sure way that leads one to a set goal.
And these days one does not have the huge expense of having to pay for film to use in our cameras. Once upon a time (and it wasn’t that long ago) there was the additional expense of having the film developed into photographs. Or in other cases made into slides, which were used for projection.
To this day, there is nothing more exciting than being in the forest, walking along rivers or coastal areas, absorbing in the surroundings, and documenting the local flora and fauna. The realization of the whole package; observation of orchids in their natural habitat, the crucial climate and habitat in which they grow, and the animal or insect world playing their part in the pollination of the orchid species — makes one complete, and perhaps one can see things from a different perspective.