First bloom on my Pyschopsis Butterfly

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Kelo

I've promised myself one of these, they are so unusual, I think.

This one is really a must have. I toyed with the idea of getting some sort of Psychopsis for almost 2 years, and I just wish that I had gotten it sooner. It's surprisingly easy to grow, and it really likes the way the grower potted it (in a net pot with bark, which is then placed in a normal clear pot for extra humidity.)

I also somewhat improved my photos somewhat compared to what I was doing a few months ago. Now I use a mirror to reflect some light back onto the plant from the front or side, and the blooms really pop out that way.

[RosieC]

I'm going to have to add this to my wishlist. I was not taken by Pyschopsis till I saw one for real at a show last year. This one looks particularly beautiful.

Originally Posted by camille1585

I also somewhat improved my photos somewhat compared to what I was doing a few months ago. Now I use a mirror to reflect some light back onto the plant from the front or side, and the blooms really pop out that way.

You know I thought you had got a new camera at first because they are so good. I know you had talked about an SLR but I see from the info on the Webshots site that it's your Powershot. Just shows what these good Canon compacts are capable of when you know how to use them well. I loved my Powershot and still use it at times even now I've got the SLR.

[camille1585]

It's not all completely due to the camera. The backgrounds don't always come out solid black (especially if I take the pics outside), so I adjust the contrast in a photo editor. But that's basically the only tweaking I do.

Hopefully I'll be getting a DSLR soon, a colleague of mine is a professional photographer as a side job and he says he can get me a good one second hand (from people who switch cameras every year just to buy the newest models!). I'd like to stick with Canon since I'm pleased with them, because as you say, their compacts can do very good shots once you really know what its capabilities and limits are.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I'd like to stick with Canon since I'm pleased with them, because as you say, their compacts can do very good shots once you really know what its capabilities and limits are.

Well I've not had it long, but my Canon DSLR is just wonderful! In fact officially I don't have it yet It's a wedding anniversary present which is next week... but we decided to use it on vacation anyway.

Another advantage of Canon is that if you want a high end lens the Canon ones are better according to a lot of people. At low range and mid range they say the lenses are about the same as other makes, but at high end they are far better. I spoke to several people on holiday who said they had bought something else because they didn't expect to ever get a top end lens... now wish they had a Canon so they could upgrade the lens without changing camera as well because they can see how much better the high end Canon lenses are.

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by camille1585

It's not all completely due to the camera. The backgrounds don't always come out solid black (especially if I take the pics outside), so I adjust the contrast in a photo editor. But that's basically the only tweaking I do.

Yeah, I do that as well on my compact's pictures. So far not had to do it on the SLR's because a lower depth of field causes the background to not be as noticeable anyway. That was one of my key reasons for wanting an SLR. You just can't get a noticeable change in depth of field with a compact because of the distance between the lens and the sensor.

Anyway, great photos, and they've really made me decide I need one of these orchids