MARSH FRAGRANT ORCHIDS


Marsh Fragrant Orchids amongst Betony, July 2025.


A couple of weeks ago I headed to some of my favourite orchid hunting groups in South Lakes. It was a great day out, and a super sunny and very hot day! On the way back I decided to visit another orchid haunt, in Yorkshire. As I headed north a flash of crimson spears illuminated a roadside embankment. I continued travelling at least a mile before I could turn around and head back. Then on the way back I had to travel at least another mile, past the embankment, before I could then turn around again to be able to park on the opposite side of the road close to the embankment. A short walk back I was able to quickly determine the beauty of a large colony of Marsh Fragrant Orchids (Gymnadenia densiflora). These were stunners and looked highly photogenic amongst the Betony (Stachys officinalis). The problem I had to overcome is that in order photograph them I had to perch on a steep part of the embankment and do so safely, away from traffic. The ongoing traffic wouldn't be able to see me until the last moment after coming over a crest in the road. 


Photography

Photographing was done with a tripod as I needed a reasonable depth of field. I wanted the Camera ISO to be no greater than 200 to obtain excellent sharpness of the final image; having that, I would get the necessary depth of field, with the distant blurred. The problem was that in order to get that crisp image I had to wait until vehicles had gone by; Vehicles were causing me grievance, not just because they were rather close to me and at speed, but because they stirred up wind and caused the plants to sway violently. I focussed two thirds into my subject and checked depth of field using focus peaking, but swaying grasses kept swirling about and laying in front of the orchids in my field of view. I took my time, half laying down, half perched, cramped awkwardly.

I took some great natural looking images. What are your thoughts?


• Point to note – when you take photographs in prime habitats remember not to damage the habitat!


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