Caleana major (Flying Duck Orchid)
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, here we have a fine specimen of a Caleana major (Flying Duck Orchid), an Australian native terrestrial orchid which grows in sandy alkaline heath-land on the east coast.
The flowers are only ¾” (2cm) long, two flowers on a n 8” (20cm) stem and with only a single spear shaped leaf at ground level.
When disturbed, the flowers drop their heads, lift their tails and curl up. This is to trap any pollinating insect inside until released perhaps hours later or even overnight.
Because of their small size and drab colouring they are difficult to find. This one and a handful of others in the near vicinity were discovered by accident as I was attempting to photograph a different wildflower. Lucky me!
This li’l quacker was photographed in the wild, along the Ocean Drive Fire trail in the Queens Lake National Park, at North Haven, NSW, Australia, on a lovely Spring afternoon, in the company of two friends from my camera club, while on a wildflower hunt.
You can find out more abut them here if you wish.
To obtain the angle of shot to isolate the orchid from the background and to be able to get very close to this little flower, I was lying on my left side, resting on my shoulder, with Mr Fuji hand held, viewfinder hard against my glasses and using controlled breathing. The UV Filter was off and the screw-on Macro Lens was on to get as much of the orchid in the frame as possible.
To make the shot I chose to go fully manual as previous attempts using aperture priority were giving me big problems with exposure due to the dark flower and the overcast lighting. Pop-up flash is not an option when using the screw-on Macro Lens and I didn’t even think of using my slave flash unit. (If I had, it would have been very hard to use the pop-up flash to set it off so it may not have worked).
Camera: Fuji S5500; Macro Mode; Manual Priority; f/2.8; 1/160sec; 6mm; WB Daylight; ISO 100.
Processing: Photoshop CS.
Enjoy!
WILD AUSSIE ORCHIDS
Caleana major
Caleana major”:http://www.redbubble.com/people/inport/art/1656974-2-tangles-the-duck
Available for sale as Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
Rosalie Dale IPA, 7 months ago
Ohhhh I am first to comment!!
Look at that DOF – this could grace the pages of a botanical text book Dennis – every little detail so crisp – even the cobwebs!!
Sarah Moore, 7 months ago
Incredible detail!!
Linda Syms, 7 months ago
Beautiful work
adgray, 7 months ago
Brilliant work!
It really does look like a duck in flight!
Shall show my brother a native botanist he will be rapped!
And thank you so much for the detailed rundown on how you achieved this shot – sometimes us non photographers think it’s just as simple as aim the camera and push the button and hope your finger isn’t in the way!
Thank you so much for sharing this awesome find
[now to go peek at your other work!]
Keep Happy! ~ adg :o)
Patricia Knowles, 7 months ago
Great image…....lucky I was redirected to this one. Thanks also for all the info about the plant and the way you managed to get this great flower in such a lovely way. P
Maximus, 7 months ago
totally awesome:)
Daniel Rayfield
,
7 months ago
Wow at first glance its a praying mantis, thats my dof eyes. But then what a wonderful capture!!!
Dave Warren, 7 months ago
That is stunning!!
wolfman, 7 months ago
that is just totaly awesome what a find what a shot
Kathie Nichols, 7 months ago
Totally awesome photography, thanks for sharing the details of how you achieved this shot and the story behind it. Fabulous Dennis!!!!!!
Dennis Gay IPA, 7 months ago
G’day ROSALIE, SARAH, LINDA, ADGRAY, PATRICIA, MAXIMUS, 6POINT1, DAVE, WOLFMAN & KATHIE,
Woohoo! What a roll-up at the national park for a photographic duck hunt!!!!!
10x huge THANK YOUs for taking a peek at my flying duck and for leaving your collection of such great comments for the flower and my work.
It is a pleasure to bring it to you all including a bit of “how to” which I hope may be of help to someone.
GB
Dennis
Kate Towers IPA, 7 months ago
great capture and great shot
Dennis Gay IPA, 7 months ago
G’day Kate,
My utmost thanks for your 2x “great…” wrap for this little Aussie orchid. So glad it caught your eye.
GB
Dennis
Dennis Gay IPA, 7 months ago
G’day robtclements ….. wherever you are …..,
Thank you for adding this work to your favourites. I can only assume by this action that you like it. Please fell free to return any time to let me know just what it is you like about it.
GB
Dennis
margo, 7 months ago
Wow it was certainly worth the effort to capture this beautiful specimen. Great depth of field. And thank you so much for describing your modus operandi.
Dennis Gay IPA, 7 months ago
G’day Margo,
I am so glad you have enjoyed your visit to the national park and the MO and story behind the photograph.
A very big THANK YOU for your most encourging “Wow…” wrap for all my effort.
GB
Dennis
Dennis Gay IPA, 7 months ago
G’day Teresa Contro ….. wherever you are …..,
Thank you for adding this work to your favourites. I can only assume by this action that you like it. Please fell free to return any time to let me know just what it is you like about it.
GB
Dennis
Tom Broderick IPA, 7 months ago
fantastic. tom
pryere, 7 months ago
A superb botanical study, kudos.
Mundy Hackett, 7 months ago
Dennis this is perfect, amazing how delicate and intricate these can get!
Dennis Gay IPA, 7 months ago
G’day TOM, PRYERE & MUNDY,
3 big THANKS YOUs heading your way for your interest in this flying Aussie wildflower and for your colective encouraging wrap for my floral photography efforts.
GB
Dennis
Antoine Dagobert, 7 months ago
Brilliant to the max!salute to you sir! God bless you!
Dennis Gay IPA, 7 months ago
G’day Antoine,
Many thanks for taking time out to admire this Aussie native orchid and to leave such a great wrap for my efforts.
GB
Dennis
wombatwal, 7 months ago
What more can I say Dennis.
Thanks for the detailed speal.
Dennis Gay IPA, 7 months ago
G’day Wal,
You have said it all in so few words Wal. thank you for your most encouraging comment for my efforts. So glad you like this one.
One of the sites I looked at when I first searched for information on this wild orchid said this was the “Large Flying Duck Orchid”. I have yet to come across any reference to a “Small” one! 8-)
GB
Dennis
linaji, 7 months ago
A big thank you for the peak!! Adgray sent me your way.. Lovely Dennis
Dennis Gay IPA, 7 months ago
G’day Linaji,
Many thanks for dropping in to take a look at this wild Aussie duck and for leaving your ”...Lovely…” comment for my work. So glad you like it.
GB
Dennis
jlynn, 7 months ago
Fantastic image,, Perfect title!
Prasad, 7 months ago
Beautiful work, Dennis
Dennis Gay IPA, 7 months ago
G’day JLYNN & PRASAD,
Thank you both so much for your double dose of encouraging and supportive comments for this very popular flying duck. So glad it caught your collective eye.
JLynn: It should be a perfect title. It is the flower’s botanical and common name. ;-)
GB
Dennis
Tugela, 7 months ago
Hi Dennis, missed this one on my visit, glad you could show it to us. Beautiful shot
Davybee, 7 months ago
I can only agree with everyone else!! Well done!
richiedean, 7 months ago
a major image Dennis !!
debsphotos, 7 months ago
WOW Dennis how sweet is this!!!! Such a ‘classic’ flower shape!!!! Beautifully captured…..I could ‘picture’ you taking the ‘picture’ well..LOL…
Marvin Collins, 7 months ago
Beautiful work Dennis!!
Snoboardnlife, 7 months ago
beautiful
Dennis Gay IPA, 7 months ago
G’day TUGELA, DAVY, RICHIE, DEB, MARVIN & SNO,
Your sextuplet of most encouraging comments for this floral oddity is greatly appreciated folks. So glad you all enjoyed the experience.
GB
Dennis
KellyThomas, 4 months ago
this is amazing, just amazing!!
Dennis Gay IPA in reply to KellyThomas’s comment, 4 months ago
G’day Kelly,
I am so glad you have enjoyed your visit to the national park and that you have spotted this odd orchid.
Thank you very much for your most encourging “…amazing (x2)...” wrap for my floral efforts.
GB
Dennis
KellyThomas, 4 months ago
have you seen David Attenboroughs ‘the private life of plants’? I imagine you have. Plants are my life (I’m a herbalist). I have always thought of orchids as almost animal like, and they definitely have intelligence. Darwin thought so too! Do you have any more?
KellyThomas, 4 months ago
i have to ask, do wasps/bees pollinate this orchid? If so, perhaps the orchid is imitating a female wasp? the male tries to mate and becomes trapped?
Dennis Gay IPA in reply to KellyThomas’s comment, 4 months ago
G’day again Kelly,
Yes, I am an avid Attenborough fan and have seen everything he has made.
I am not a herbalist or a botanist but I have developed a great love of and interest in our Aussie native plants since beginning photography and joining my camera club. I too find orchids to be in a class of their own, especially Aussie terrestrials such as this.
I am pretty sure it is a particular species of wasp which pollinates these flying ducks and you are probably quite right in you assumption. By closing their “lid” on any wasp that enters the “bowl”, the orchid then ensures it is well and truly pollinated.
Thank you so much for your interest.
GB
Dennis
mikrin, 3 months ago
Wow! what a beautiful flower! Wonder capture Dennis
Dennis Gay IPA, 3 months ago
G’day Mikrin,
I am so glad you have enjoyed your visit to the national park and that you have spotted this odd orchid.
Thank you very much for your most encourging “Wow!...” wrap for my floral efforts.
They certainly are an extraordinary orchid. 8-)
GB
Dennis
Rosie Appleton, 7 days ago
Stunning capture :-)
Dennis Gay IPA in reply to Rosie Appleton’s comment, 6 days ago
G’day Rosie,
I am so glad you have enjoyed your visit to the national park and that you have spotted this odd orchid.
Thank you very much for your most encourging “Stunning…” wrap for my floral efforts.
Thank you too for the honour of adding my portfolio to your watchlist. I hope it lives up to your expectations.
GB
Dennis