Cattleya skinneri - Orchid Board

FairyInTheFlowers · #1 05-21-2012, 12:35 AM

Well, this plant surprised me several times in quite a short period of time. First off, I bought this plant in November as a plant with two leads that were connected by the very last p'bulb, so I divided it and potted them separately, with each division's newest lead having a sheath. Other than growing some roots intermittently since then, I was shocked to see a few weeks ago that the larger division had began to grow some buds through the sheath! I could have sat there and watch the buds grow it seemed they grew so fast, and this plant has stole the title of first plant to open a flower without me noticing that it had began to open. I actually startled when I saw its rosy face staring back at me when I went to water it the morning it opened, and the other two buds came shortly behind! Unfortunately, due to our craptastic point and shoot camera, I really didn't give a flying unicorn when taking its picture, and chose the one that was in focus the most, even though the colour is WAAY off, as it is a lot more rosy in real life.

peeweelovesbooks · #2 05-21-2012, 12:36 AM

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh that's pretty! Lovely. Very lovely.

FairyInTheFlowers · #3 05-21-2012, 12:45 AM

Thanks Maria! It's really depressing seeing all these fabulous pictures posted here, and then only having a cheap little camera to work with! I hate not being able to show everything off as best as possible.

james mickelso · #4 05-21-2012, 01:39 AM

Very nice dude!!! Love the color right here. Nice pic. (take it outside but in light shade with your P&S and the color will be more faithful) Once the flowers fade (cut them off when the fragrance fades) let it rest for a few weeks. Little water and absolutely no fertilizer. When this pbulb starts really throwing roots, then start watering it again. This is very pretty. What is the other one doing? How about the bbulbs you cut these from? Any bud eyes popping? Can I see a pic of the trio together? Here is a pic that shows a bud eye starting to grow from an old rotted pbulb that was black rotted and died about two years ago. So watch your old pbulbs and keep them warm and moist.

Bud · #5 05-21-2012, 03:31 PM

Cody, that is a beautiful flower. I love the stunning color and form. The texture and shape of the flower gives it a very attractive focus.
James is right...now that its warmwer months, you may take the flower outdoor... ideally in an overcast sky as background to capture the real color of the bloom.

WhiteRabbit · #6 05-21-2012, 03:55 PM

Beautiful! if you have different light settings on the camera (auto, daylight, cloudy, incandescent, flourescent, etc) try different ones to see which gives you most realistic color

james mickelso · #7 05-21-2012, 09:10 PM

Bud, actually an overcast sky is blue dominant in color. Blue is the last color filtered out by clouds. An open north clear sky has the best color rendition. But you are right. Taking the subject outside is better because the shadows are softened giving the subject greater depth. I am a photophile as well as an orchid addict. Though I shoot almost exclusively in black and white now I started in color slide then went to color neg as my printing skills became better. Now I shoot 4x5 and 8x10 black and white landscape and still life. I use my orchid flowers as subject matter.

silken · #8 05-21-2012, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlazingAugust

Thanks Maria! It's really depressing seeing all these fabulous pictures posted here, and then only having a cheap little camera to work with! I hate not being able to show everything off as best as possible.

Hey Cody, if your camera has no settings, you might have to consider setting aside a bit of $$ from your orchid budget for a new one. Most point and shoots even have settings tho, you just have to use them. Otherwise it doesn't take much $$ these days to get a decent camera. But you need to take advantage of the setting on it to get the best results.

Your blooms are lovely by the way!

Bud · #9 05-22-2012, 12:02 AM

James, I am not a photographer; I am just a dabbler...It is impossible for me to take pictures and set up indoors in my New York apartment..so even in winter I run and quickly photograph my flowers outdoors at the back of my building and use a tree, a wall or the sky as my background...it is in the warmer months so the grass is green and lush and lovely to background for my orchids too...I used iPhone to photograph...but it cant capture tiny small flowers of my miniature orchids...hence I was forced to buy a digital camera

peeweelovesbooks · #10 05-22-2012, 12:05 AM

I'll tell you a secret Cody: that's my sister's camera I use!! It's one step below a professional model, not that I'm anywhere near a professional photographer. LOLOL..

The camera is the talented one...I just take zillions of photos and pick out the best ones out of the batch.

Your photos are very good though. And, more importantly, I think, is the dedication you show to your orchids.