Orchid Images by A’na Sa’tara
Quick links:
Asian & Pacific Dendrobium
Australian Dendrobium
Cymbidium
Dockrillia
Paphiopedilum
Brazilian Laelia & Cattleya Alliance
More friendly species & hybrids
Seeking beauty and elusive light for over twenty years, my photography has led me to many adventures across remote wilderness over six continents. Emerging somewhat naturally, and somewhat unexpectedly, my orchid images synthesize two of my passions: growing orchids and photography. Orchid photography embodies one of my favorite aspects of creating images of nature: macrophotography and botany. Also, orchid photography is possible with much less time and energy required for travel … brilliant forms and colors are always alive and inviting in our own home and yard.
My approach to orchid photography is more personal, artistic, and co-creative than scientific documentation of orchid plants and flowers. I prefer to call my form of orchid photography “orchid portraits.” The whole plant, not just the flower, is integral to the image. An orchid can be experienced from many perspectives: my intention is that the series of orchid photographs that I create is like visiting with a friend, having a conversation where you learn something new about someone special and see more deeply.
My orchid images focus on species and primary hybrids, the majority of our collection. But there are some unique and charismatic complex hybrids in our orchid family too. Thank you for taking the time to see, feel, and experience the many dimensions of orchids through my photography.
You can learn more about my approach to photography here.
Orchid Images:
Asian & Pacific Dendrobium
The large, varied, and complex genus of Dendrobium spans across Asia, Pacific Islands, and Australia. To make my orchid images more easily searchable, I have organized the photographs into three subsections: Asia-Pacific Dendrobium, Australian Dendrobium, and Dockrillia.
While the Asia-Pacific region covers a broad and diverse area of Earth, our Dendrobium collection — and hence my orchid photography — focuses on cool to intermediate species from New Guinea, the Philippines, and Himalayas. We are fortunate to be able to sustain high humidity and cool nights (50F, 10C) all year, much to liking of highland Dendrobium species. We recently added a warm nursery room for Paphiopedilum seedlings — and now we also seem to be adding a few more warm growing Dendrobium too. Most orchid growers are familiar with the slippery slope of a new growing area and expanding collection …
Orchid Images:
Australian Dendrobium
Our central California climate is ideal for growing Australian Dendrobium, and most of our Australian orchids spend the entire year outside. I move some northern Queensland species into our indoor cool room for the winter, as sub-freezing nights are well outside of their natural habitat. Covering my favorite colors, yellow, white, and pink are the hues of Australian orchid photography.
I lived in Australia for a year, as a visiting scientist at the Universities of New South Wales and Adelaide, with the great pleasure to circumnavigate the continent in my Subaru. With many thousands of miles of experience, I have an appreciation for the varied habitats, and, hence, an intuitive connection to the cultivation of these hardy Dendrobium species.
Orchid Images: Cymbidium
Cymbidium are a wide ranging Asian genus, with some species thriving in areas that receive snow while others grow in hot, lowland jungles. Central California is an ideal growing area for the cooler growing species. Most of our Cymbidium live outside year-round with the Australian Dendrobium, with a few warmer growers heading to the cool growing area when nights drop below 40F (4C).
We focus on species, and hybrids of those species, which grow best in our area: Cymbidium tracyanum, Cymbidium devonianum, Cymbidium madidum, and Cymbidium canaliculatum. This diversity translates into ongoing opportunities for orchid photography of Cymbidium during most months of the year. One of our favorite Cymbidium floral qualities is lots of spots … amongst the species photographs, you will see our favorite speckled hybrids.
Orchid Images: Dockrillia
Now taxonomically included with Dendrobium, Dockrillia are a visually distinct group. Most people would not even easily recognize Dockrillia as orchids — with leaves that are small, plump and succulent-like or long, drooping strands. This is orchid photography with an eye for the abstract: the plant is as unique and intriguing as the flower.
A very hardy group, Dockrillia endure in varying light conditions and withstand dry periods with low humidity. However, most grow best with higher humidity and at least intermediate temperatures. After several trials, the only species and hybrids that I leave outside year-round are Dockrillia (Dendrobium) striolata and its primary hybrids. All others enjoy 50F (10C) minimum night temperatures much more.
Orchid Images: Paphiopedilum
Paphiopedilum are the orchids of my heart, and amongst my favorite of all orchids. I believe it reflects in the photography: some people say that Paphiopedilum are the best of my orchid images. They are an other-worldly group of orchids, also known as “slipper orchids” for the distinctive shape of the pouch (modified “lip” or labellum).
Most of our Paphiopedilum collection are species, with a few primary hybrids. We are particularly drawn to alba and flavum forms … again note the theme of yellow and white from my Australian orchid photography. Paphiopedilum flowers often require several days — or longer — to fully open, and I enjoy creating sequences of photographs of the blooming stages.
Orchid Images: Laelia & Cattleya Alliance of Brazil
Our growing collection of Brazilian Laelia and Cattleya Alliance species is a consequence of our love for lithophytes, and a changing California climate. In the past few years, we have been shifting away from cooler growers, and towards more robust species adapted to periodic drier and hotter conditions. I sometimes think of rupiculous Laelia as the Dendrobium speciosum of Brazil — though on the other extreme of size!
We grow all of our lithophytes in a combination of granite and clay pellets. They thrive in our conditions. (To be clear, however, the Australian Dendrobium are mostly year-round outdoor growers, while our smaller rupiculous Laelia and Section Hadrolaelia species grow indoors year-round. The larger Brazilian Laelia species spend the summer outdoors.)
More friendly species & hybrids
In this section of images, you will find an eclectic assortment of my orchid photography and growing, the unique bright stars of our collection that aren’t Dendrobium, Cymbidium, Laelia, or Paphiopedilum. We have a few hardy friends from the western hemisphere, particularly Rhyncolaelia, Barkeria, and Epidendrum species. We particularly focus on species that are both cold and heat tolerant, for successful outdoor growing, as our local climate is increasingly variable, with less constant humidity.
We also love vandaceous orchids, and have several cooler growing Vanda and Sarcochilus species. While they do tolerate near freezing temperatures, I find that even cold tolerant Vanda grow better indoors for the winter (above 40F/4C).
