My Phalaenopsis or “Moth Orchid” put up a flower spike quite a while ago. I am talking months ago! I have been waiting patiently for the little blooms! This orchid only blooms once a year. So you can understand my excitement when I noticed the blossom was getting fat and could open at anytime.
I quickly set up my camera on the tripod and plugged in the shutter release cable/ timer. Placed a couple reflectors and headed out to meet my friend for lunch. I got home a few hours later and nothing! I kept watch all day and into the evening. I had to work the next day so I popped in a fresh battery and went to bed.
I saw my son in the morning. He said hey I thought you were up. I saw the light on, heard your camera and was talking to you. Then I looked in and realized your camera was “hooked up”. I just laughed…..sorry son!
But isn’t technology great.
Upon inspection the orchid had opened up part way! But sometime between 5:30 AM when my son got home (he works 3rd shift) and me getting up at 7:30 AM my battery died! ARG!!!!!! I put in a new battery and checked the last image.
The orchid had opened enough that there would be a big jump in the time-lapse video. Crap!
What to do…. just stop and hope to catch another bloom or continue and start the video with the bloom part way open??? It has been a while since I have done anything photography wise. So I decided to keep clicking away and hope my battery would last until it had opened fully. Off to work I went.
Upon returning home sure enough the orchid had bloomed!! Now to check the camera and see if the batteries had lasted until the end. I put in fresh batteries and YEAH! The image I saw was the orchid opened up completely!!!! YES 🙂
Told my hubby I’ll start dinner in a few seconds I just want to download these images to the computer. Of course he knows I will be more than “just a few seconds”. What a nice guy!
In all I had 94 images to put together to make the video. Next time I hope to capture this event from beginning to end.
But it was fun to be able to see this beautiful orchid open!
I would have missed it all since I was sleeping and at work while all the action was taking place!
To view the video click here
I will be posting images of this orchid very soon go to www.vickieszumigala.com
Vickie Szumigala Photo Blog 
Wow way cool idea. I have to go inside to watch the video on the other computer…I’m outside with the pups on the laptop and it needs a newer version of flash player. I’ll keep you posted!
Yup that is way cool for sure!!! What kind of timer do you use??
Thanks David! The brand is called Shoot shutter release cable with a timer. Picked it up on ebay. Cheap in price but works well. Now I just need to get the timing right with my batteries!
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