Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone knows of any websites where they have close up pics of orchids. I have entered a cake decorating competition and I would like to make gumpaste orchids and I want to make them realistic but I have done a search and I can't seem to find any pics that give a nice close up shot of the flowers that is a reasonable size so I can see the detail of the throat and the colouration etc.

Thanks

Google is your friend.

http://images.google.com/images?q=orchids&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

If you know the exact kind of orchid you are doing, enter that into the image search.

Rachel

Thanks so much Rachel

I did try another search engine and I went through heaps of webpages just to find small pics where I couldn't see enough detail.

I will have to post some pics of my orchids when they are done (hopefully they will turn out ok)

Thanks again

I do the exact same thing as Rachel. For instance on this link- I went to Yahoo search, typed in Vanda Orchid, clicked on Images and these came up. You can enlarge by clicking on the thumbnails.

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=Vanda+Orchid&fr=yfp-t-501&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8

And another way to do it is go to a search engine and just type in "Orchid Photos"

Here is a page I found with some gorgeous photos, click on thumbnails to enlarge. Scroll down and click on his other photo pages, there are more beautiful Orchids featured.

http://ablackorchid.com/

I would also highly recommend the book by Alan Dunn
Sugar Orchids For Cakes

I second Shirley's recommendation of Alan Dunn's book. I used it as a starting point when making the moth orchids in my photos; although I didn't follow it exactly in the end, it is a great starting point because Dunn is meticulous about realism and detail. Also try your local library, at mine, there are big books all about orchids. Do post pics of your orchids, I love orchids.

Hi,
Are you interested in a particular type of orchid? I have some really good pictures of Dendrobiums, which I used as references for my water-colours. (Very detailed)
Let me know if you would like to see them.
Karen

Thanks everyone for your responses and I have to say Redred that your orchids are absolutely georgeous they are so realistic I wanted to reach through the screen to touch them! hopefully mine will come out 1/2 as good.

I had in my head that I wanted to make a moth style orchid and have seen ones in a purpley/mauvey colour that I have fallen in love with and I have found a couple of good pics of them in the links provided by both Rachel and Shirley (thanks so much).

I have two of Alan Dunn's books but not the orchid one, although I was lucky enough to go to a demonstration day where a very nice lady demonstrated how to make a moth orchid and gave some detailed instructions and notes so I will have a go with those and see how it turns out otherwise I might have to get the Alan Dunn Orchid book.

Thanks again everyone for your help

Large pictures of moth orchids:
http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&imgsz=xxlarge&safe=off&q=moth+orchid+&btnG=Search

Thank you ozcake, I'm sure yours will come out just as good if not better! My tips are: In hindsight I would use a stronger, less brittle gumpaste for the throat because the two little tendrils are prone to breaking. Use some moth orchid veiners, they make all the difference. PM me if you want to know suppliers in Oz.