Mary Bess and freak flowers

[the jive turkey]

I only got 3 phrag hubrids. This one, Sorcerer's Apprentice and China Dragon. I grow this next to my Sorcerer's Apprentice in bright light. Some of the flowers are bloomed distorted.

This one is normal

no sepals

one sepal tucked in slipper

closeup

 

[kentuckiense]

Hahaha those are pretty unique. I like the first monstrosity. The one with the dorsal(or whatever it is) sticking straight out.

Also, your photographs are amazing in my opinion. Would you mind sharing your setup?

 

[Ron-NY]

I have seen this happen with low humidity and temps combined.

 

[Heather]

I agree with Zach, that first shot of the misfits is really great. Despite it being a bit of a mess.

Rudolph would love them all!

 

[Eric Muehlbauer]

Check Rob Z.'s site for some great phrag monstrosities...some my own...I think Rob is on this group now...Take care, Eric

 

[the jive turkey]

I have seen this happen with low humidity and temps combined.

Spot on! humidity is 30% avg. When these flowers were forming, my temps were high 72F low 50F.

There is no big secret for the photo setup. I have canon powershot pro1. I'm lucky because I am able to photograph outside in the warm, golden, Arizona afternoon sun, on my patio. I turn exposure all the way down; everything else is auto.

I would like to use manual focus but I have no tripod (although I wish I had one) so I try to make sure the flower is not moving at all and try to keep as still as possible. I usually take at least 10 pics of each position or until I get in focus what I want.

here's shooting information in geek language:
Camera Model Name Canon PowerShot Pro1
Shooting Date/Time 12/3/2006 3:37:39 PM
Shooting Mode Program AE
Photo Effect Off
Tv (Shutter Speed) 1/1250
Av (Aperture Value) 4.0
Light Metering Evaluative
Exposure Compensation -2
ISO Speed Auto
Lens 7.2 - 50.8 mm
Focal Length 10.6 mm
Digital Zoom None
Image Size 2272x1704
Image Quality Superfine
Flash Off
White Balance Day Light
AF Mode Continuous AF
Super Macro On
Color Space sRGB
File Size 828 KB
Drive Mode Single-frame shooting

 

[NYEric]

MUTATION!!! No just unfurl the petals.

 

[SlipperFan]

Some of the flowers are bloomed distorted.

That happens sometimes on mine, also. Low humidity, eh?

 

[Sangii]

weirdo ! do you use any superthrive ?????