Digital Orchid Photography Books

[Uechi]

I am looking for the names of any good books on the Digital Photography of Orchids. I have lots of books on birds, mammals etc. Like any subject there are specific suggestions from experienced photographers that help the novice. As a new member, I need some help from long time orchid lovers and digital photographers. Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to offer.

[Ross]

Being a photographer myself, I can tell you for certain there are no (as far as I know) books specifically designed for photography of orchids. Now, having said that, any book explaining macro photography of just-about-any subject would be applicable. I personally have learned a lot from John Shaw's books on macro photography.

[Dorothy]

So Ross, when are you coming out with that book of photographed orchids?
I'm waaaaaitiiiiing .. **hands on hips, tapping my toe **

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Dorothy

So Ross, when are you coming out with that book of photographed orchids?
I'm waaaaaitiiiiing .. **hands on hips, tapping my toe **

D. "Photographed Orchids" is one thing. But how to photograph orchids in digital photography I think was the question. My answer is that the techniques are learned, not so much from books, as from practice. Books like John Shaw's "Photographing Nature" books certainly explain most of the basics that are necessary for decent close-up photography. But taking lots of clicks is the real answer. The technique isn't much different for photographing a Geranium than a mini Dendrobium.

[Dorothy]

Ross - I know .. but I'm still waiting on your book

[Djarum Black]

Not sure if this will help anyone but there are classes at local colleges in most cities that teach flower photography and other specialized stuff.
I was excited to see this post because I was debating taking a class that is being offered at my local botanical gardens on the same subject.
I think the class is 70 or 80 bucks, but I thought it was worth it to improve my skills.
(I take terrible photos)
Has anyone ever taken a class like this before?

[Uechi]

I have Shaw's books and several other nature and macro photo books. I agree that techniques must be learned by practice, but I have yet to buy a digital photo book where I haven't learned or at least been shown a new tool or technique. These techniques vary depending on the photo subject. My interest in photographing orchids leans more towards wild varieties. Given the nature and often difficult location of a lot of epiphytic orchids I was hoping for some new insights.

[goodgollymissmolly]

I'm curious as to what you expect to get from a "digital" photography book versus a "photography" book. Other than the media on which the image is captured and your new ability to control white balance rather than use filters to control color, there is no difference in film and digital photography.

This a new way to capture data, not a new way to take pictures.

[Uechi]

Thanks for everyone's response. I don't agree with the the last post about digital versus film photography. My interest in a digital photo book has more to do with equipment and specific techniques used by the photographer. All of the differences noted are correct but that hasn't stopped a multitude of books being written in the last three years dealing specifically with digital photography in general as well as portrait, nature etc. I also believe there is a significant difference between digital and film. Film still maintains an edge on resolution, especially black and white. It loses on instant feedback when photos are taken versus developing a negative and the ease with which a digital photo can be manipulated versus what it takes in effort on film photos. Thanks again for everybodies feedback.

[goodgollymissmolly]

"....Film still maintains an edge on resolution..."

I don't see any good outcome from an argument here so I'll try to avoid one at all costs and keep this to the facts. That's a false statement. The resolution of digital imagery now exceeds the resolution of lens. Film never approached that level of resolution. Digital sensors can now resolve more than 100 lines per millimeter. The best possible films never challenged lenses.

The fact that digital images can be edited more easily than film is not germane to the conversation of the photography itself. Editing is an after-the-fact issue. It can be good or bad depending on what is done and who does it. Editing a picture to improve its match with the subject is good. Enhancing a photo to deceive the viewer can be bad depending on why its done. It might be artistic in nature which is good. It maight be an attempt to deceive for financial gain which is bad. The same can be said of filters and processing in film photography.

Before I got distracted by the false claims above, I wanted to post a link to Greg Allikas's website that makes some suggestions for photography and shows how to make a "tent".

Close-up Photography

Cheers