Kibbutz Bahan in the Hefer Valley in central Israel is the site of a park named ‘Utopia‘ which houses, among many other things, a wonderful collection of orchids – some 20,000 in all – including several rare species.
Nov
23
2012
CiF Watch
Monitoring and combating antisemitism and the assault on Israel's legitimacy at the Guardian and its blog 'Comment is Free'
Fabulous photography, as always. Sharp, well-lit and good distances and angles. Would it be possible for you to attach a small note on the lens, camera settings and such?
Ralph Katzenell
Binyamina
Hi Ralph,
I use a Sony alpha 300 digital SLR with a standard lens, which I think has actually been discontinued in the meantime – I believe the new version is even better.
It’s a really easy and comfortable camera to use – has a whole variety of very easily interchangeable settings including one especially for close-ups of flowers/plants.
Harvey – I’m afraid I don’t know the proper names of each flower. There are 3 species of orchids which grow wild in Israel, with around 32 sub-types.
Thanks Hadar So very lovely and such a welcome relief from the usual diet of hatred emanating from the Guardian and other sources .
Perhaps you could identify the flowers especially as Hebrew names have a meaning .
Shabbat Shalom
Harvey
What the! Are those fangs or teeth inside the plant. Aand if so what h do thay eat?
Wonderful pics – thankyou.
Have you seen this film ? BBC showed them sometime in the 80s . Wild orchids in Israel. As far as I know all your orchids – like ours here in uk – are terrestrial.
Leni
What magnificent pictures Hadar! My son and his family went to Utopia in Bahan on Sukkot and had a marvellous time. Highly recommended.
Leni, that film is amazing. And to think that the BBC showed a film about Israel showing something pretty and uncontroversial?! Quite incredible.