Photographs from recent ghost orchid field trip.

[prem]

I was privileged recently to go on a two-day trip exploring the wilder recesses of the Fakahatchee Strand in southern Florida. I did manage to take a few good ghost orchid photos. Here are some of the better photos:







You can see even more photos (including the famous Corkscrew Swamp "Superghost') at my Dendrophylax lindenii page:

Florida's Native and Naturalized Orchids: Dendrophylax lindenii

---Prem

[Ron-NY]

Prem you took some wonderful pics of it! What length telephoto did you use?

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Lovely photos, Prem. That one looks like it might be very high up in the tree. You must have a great zoom.

Cheers,
BD

[kfir from israel]

waaooowww
great photos
nothing like orchids in the wild

[Lambert]

Those are fantastic pictures, you really took some amazing shots. They really showcase the "Ghost"'s beautifully shaped bloom.

[prem]

Thanks for all the compliments so far...in response to the questions about the zoom factor, I had my Canon EF 170-300mm lens with me...the kind with image stabilization (which I don't use for tripod shots as the stabilizers actually get confused by the stillness of the tripod). I also had my Canon 580 EX II flash with me for some of the photos so I could enhance the lighting a bit--you'd be amazed at how far that thing will illuminate! Other shots were taken entirely in natural light with long exposures (thankfully, there were only wisps of a breeze every now and again in the Fakahatchee, so it was possible to get down to about 1/30th exposure and still get a rock-solid take!).

The shots of the Corkscrew Swamp "Superghost" on my site were taken with someone else's monster lens (I believe it was a Canon L-series 600mm lens).

Hope that answers all the questions...

---Prem
Curator, Florida Native and Naturalized Orchids

[ang709]

Great photos! This first one is so dramatic looking, and the second two are nice to see the surroundings.

[clintdawley]

Great photos, Prem. You are a talented photographer--I love how you've captured these dainty beauties.

[dsm]

The beauty you have captured is overwhelming, you are a master hunter!

[sadie]

I'm so envious! Not only are those spectacular ghost orchids, but you got to see them in the wild! How incredible that must have been. Thank you for sharing it with us!