This week, Patti is asking us to Change Our Perspective for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge. I spent much of the time on Friday on my knees at the Chicago Botanic Garden, photographing flowers at the annual Orchid Show. This was my second visit, the first being on the previous Sunday when there were crowds of people and not much room to maneuver. It was a different story on Friday afternoon when there were times that I had the place almost to myself. When I wasn’t crouching down, I was looking up or twisting round and performing all kinds of contortions in order to get a different view of the blooms on show.
It’s not always easy to separate flowers from the surrounding foliage and sometimes it’s necessary to get into some rather undignified postures just to get the right angle.
They change the theme of the show every year and this time it was all about color and light, with some intriguing installations to highlight the displays. This one with the mirrored globes provided an interesting view of the orchids from different perspectives.
And another, with various colored strings that caught the rays of the sun through the greenhouse windows, provided ample opportunity to view the flowers in a whole different light.
While the towering chandelier, although not the easiest thing to access, still offered a variety of angles that resulted in a few interesting shots.
I always feel like a kid in a candy store as I’m taking in the sights at the show. There are just so many delightful blooms to reward the effort of a few somewhat uncomfortable moments of trying to get up from a kneeling position. The ends justify the means in this case.
Amazing collection of orchids, Sue….excellent photographs!!
Thanks, Indira! It’s always a challenge, trying to find a different way to look at and present these beautiful blooms.
Wonderful photos of some beautiful orchids. So many fantastic ideas in the displays and brilliantly captured in your photos.
Thanks, Marianne! The orchid show always makes a welcome break in the winter months.
Aberglasney Gardens – where I volunteer- have an orchid show on this weekend too- such amazing flowers!
I love orchids but do not allow myself to bring them home as I promptly kill them so I have a very nice fake or two here and there. That said, loved your images. Although the theme was color my favorite was the white orchid against the black background. Go figure! Also loved the colored strings, very clever. Great opportunity to shoot for the challenge – well done.
Thanks, Tina! I never seem to have much luck with indoor plants either, so I’m happy to just take pictures.
My favourite flowers – orchids. Well photographed perspectives – now you made me too feel like the kid in the candy store!
Thanks, Ann-Christine!
Stunning. The flowers, the shiny globes with their reflections and distortions, the coloured strings, even the little ladybird. Really enjoyable post Sue, and thank you!
Thanks, Liz! At first I thought the ladybird was an intruder but then I noticed they had lots of little green bug boxes hanging from various branches so it was apparently there on a mission.
What a feast of lovely images. Thank you.
Thank you, Tom! The orchids are always a welcome sight as we draw towards the end of a long, cold winter. Still waiting for anything other than a few bedraggled snowdrops to put in an appearance in the garden.
These are all fabulous!
Thank you so much!
Wow. Orchids evolved just waiting for photography to be invented. Good job. Love the colored strings too. Excellent series. Thank
Thank you, John. Not that the orchids aren’t beautiful on their own, but the Garden always manages to provide a little added interest to these shows which draws me back every year.
Great pics! Didn’t you just live the orchid show? We must have been there on different days. 😊
Thanks, Irene! Yes, I always look forward to this annual splash of color when the winter days seem so dreary.
It was my first time at the orchid show and I enjoyed it so much. 😊
I love this series, Sandy! Beautiful photos of these orchids. The white orchids image with the dark background is my favorite. Thank you for the fabulous tour of this special show. 🙂
Thank you for your kind words, Amy.
Hi, Sue. Wonderful photographs of the orchids. I especially love your macro shots and the ones against the black background. The shapes and colors really are wonderful.
Thanks, Patti! And thank you for this challenge.
You’re very welcome, Sue.
Beautiful shots, Sue.
Thank you so much!
Pingback: Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #87 – Reflections | The Showers of Blessings
What lovely photos. You capture the beauty of orchids really well.
Thank you so much, Suzanne.
The ladybug was a happy bonus 🙂
Yes, I was surprised and glad to see it among all these exotic blooms.
Those are beautiful images of the Orchids, and it was neat getting a glimpse of you too. 😀
Thank you! I had a hard time trying to avoid getting in the picture. There were just too many mirrors.
😀
Oh my! Absolutely beautiful!! … and I love the colors 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by, Lisa.