Phalaenopsis sp

[Pete Askew]

As I have a stinking cold, I took some time this afternoon to play with lighting on the flowers of a Phalaenopsis sp plant. I wanted to light it with just one light and reflectors while leaving the background black. Almost there and just one shadow that I would have preferred to have softened further. I really must buy some more clips!

Cambo Legend, Schneider Super Symmar 120mm f1:5.6 MC, PhaseOne P45 back. Indirectly-lit with a Bowens focussing spot flash driven from a Bowens Quadmatic Asymmetric generator (3 kJ s) and two reflectors. 1/60s at f1:16 with no movements. PP in CaptureOne Pro 7, PS and Nik ColorFx 4 and Cropped in LR.

 

[Brian Moore]

Lovely shot, Pete. Whats the common name of these flooers?

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks Brian. Moth orchids.

This is the original (cropped) and a mono conversion - I still had "Why shoot in Black and White?" in my head!

 

[Peter McCullough]

WOW Pete, superb floral images. Very real and natural looking, those Schneider lenses are excellent! I had a Toyo 5x4 many years ago and had Schneider lenses, quality!

Having the cold/flu is causing you to shoot top drawer images - just lovely!!

 

[Paul Lange]

Now that is just lovely and very striking.

 

[Hamish Gill]

Very striking mate!

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks all. I realised while shooting this that I don't have enough support arms for reflectors. So I have just spent several frustrating hours working out who sells what. There is something to be said for paper catalogues rather than web sites!

 

[Paul Lange]

Yeah, I find websites are great if you happen to know exactly what the supplier calls it otherwise you are stuffed and have to wade through loads of stuff to find what you want. That is rashly assuming that you find what you wanted. Why aren't online catalogues laid out like hard copy catalogues with those useful things called indexes?

 

[Pete Askew]

I resorted to downloading copies of the Lastolite and Manfrotto lighting support catalogues. I gave up with California Sunbounce though. There are a couple of others but I can't be arsed to trawl my way trough their sites any longer.