Camera: Canon Elan II, 28-80mm zoom set at 80mm macro, Fuji Super HQ film.

-- John Kelly (medicman@flash.net), March 02, 1999

Answers

URLs are case-sensitive! The safest way to get them right is to cut and paste.

-- Andrei Frolov (andrei@phys.ualberta.ca), March 02, 1999.

Oh yeah, the critique... There are two terrible technical problems with this one: it is not anywhere near sharp, and it is obviously (and badly) flashed. My guess is that you handheld it, and switched the flash on to get enough light for handholding. The depth of field is really shallow at large magnifications, and if you handhold it is really easy to miss the focus altogether. Try using a tripod. It's the only answer. BTW, it will solve flash problems too - no need to flash, just use longer exposure with ambient light.

-- Andrei Frolov (andrei@phys.ualberta.ca), March 02, 1999.

You definitly missed critical focus, actually focus at all.

I'm not sure about the flash....if you didn't use the flash then you shot it in direct mid-day sun. Another no no....diffuse the light if you MUST shoot during mid-day (with a white garbage bag or something).

Good try though...keep shooting!!

-- Jason Fobart (jason@fobart.net), March 02, 1999.

Dear John, I'm afraid to say that this isn't an orchid. It is a type of Lily (member of the Liliaceae or a related family, depending upon which taxonomist you believe). Members of this family are often mistaken for orchids or are described as "orchid-like". Orchids and lilies have similar leaves, simple and strap-shaped with parallel veining, and both have flowers based upon three-fold symetry. With orchids, however, the inner whorl of three petals has one petal specially modified into a lip, which usually serves as a landing pad for the pollinator. Also, orchids have the male and female organs fused into a single column, and the pollen is grouped into (usually two) masses. Lilies have seperate female and male parts, and the pollen grains are free and form a powder. Finally lilies have large seeds and orchids have tiny powder-like seeds, I think they are the smallest of plant seeds. As for taking flower photos, use a tripod and try to shoot on an overcast day, usually you will need to stop down to about f16. If you find an irresistible subject in strong sunlight, shade it and the background, or diffuse the light. I find I have good lighting for flowers in my main room, it has white walls and windows along one side, the lighting is soft, diffuse but directional. The biggest problem is creating a natural-looking background. If you try this, make sure that you are not picking any rare flowers, or breaking any laws though. Good luck, David

-- David Bertioli (david@cenargen.embrapa.br), March 06, 1999.