The 2023 Hardy Orchid Society Photographic Competition was was held during the Southern Autumn Meeting at Islip. Thanks to Howard Rice for judging the entries and to Neil Evans who organised the competition. Details of the winners and their photographs follow:

Results of the Hardy Orchid Society Photographic Competition 2023

The Maren Talbot Photographic Trophy
Gillian Elsom
Platanthera chlorantha with Melitaea cinxia (Glanville Fritillary) in Class 6

Platanthera chlorantha

Best Digital
Karen Gregory
Platanthera bifolia in Class 8

Platanthera bifolia

Best Novice Class Entry
Winner of the Cole & Waller Book Prize
Neville Roberts
for Bletilla striata in Class 17


Class 1: A view of an area (landscape or habitat) showing orchids in their natural environment, print size up to A4.
(8 entries)

First
Platanthera bifolia
by Karen Gregory

Platanthera bifolia
Second
Orchis purpurea
by Janet Hails

Orchis purpurea
Third
Orchis mascula
by Denise Harper

Orchis mascula

Class 2: A group of orchids containing at least three flower spikes in their natural environment, print size up to A4.
(9 entries)

First
Cyprepedium calceolus
by Karen Gregory

Cyprepedium calceolus
Second
Dactylorhiza kerryensis
by Denise Harper

Dactylorhiza kerryensis
Third
Anacamptis pyramidalis
by Ken Elsom

Anacamptis pyramidalis

Class 3: A flower spike of a single orchid in its natural environment, print size up to A4 .
(10 entries)

First
Neotinea ustulata
by Janet Hails

Neotinea ustulata

Second
Neottia nidus-avis
by Denise Harper

Neottia nidus-avis
Third
Hammarbya paludosa
by Ken Elsom

Hammarbya paludosa


Class 4: A close up of an orchid, showing one or more entire inflorescence(s), in its natural environment, print size up to A4.
(11 entries)

First
Platanthera chlorantha
by Ken Elsom

Platanthera chlorantha

Second
Orchis simia
by Alan Blackman



Equal Third
Orchis mascula
by Christopher Hoskin

Orchis mascula

Equal Third
Pseudorchis albida
by Karen Gregory

 

Pseudorchis albida

Class 5:A close up of an orchid showing part of an inflorescence, in its natural environment, print size up to A4.
(10 entries)

First
Epipactis leptochila
by Ken Elsom

Epipactis leptochila
Second
Ophrys apifera (sepaloid)
by Vincent Blood

Ophrys apifera
Equal Third
Ophrys sipontensis
by Janet Hails

Ophrys sipontensis

Equal Third
Ophys apifera
by Karen Gregory

 

Ophys apifera

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Second

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Third

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Third

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Class 6: A view of an orchid with pollinator, in its natural environment, print size up to A4.
(24 entries)

First
Anacamptis pyramidalis (with Melitaea cinxia)
by Gillian Elsom

Anacamptis pyramidalis

Second
Dactylorhiza fuchsii (with bee)
by Ken Elsom

Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Third
Epipactis purpurata (with wasp)
by Hillary Pickersgill

Epipactis purpurata

Class 7: An orchid subject that is growing in cultivation, print size up to A4
(3 entries)

First
Anacamptis morio
by Janet Hails

 

Anacamptis morio


Class 8: A view of an area (landscape or habitat) showing orchids in their natural environment, in JPEG form.
(18 entries)

First
Platanthera bifolia
by Karen Gregory

Platanthera bifolia


Second
Dactlylorhiza majalis
by Denise Harper

Dactlylorhiza majalis
Third
Orchis italica
by Alan Dash

Orchis italica

Class 9: A group of orchids containing at least three flower spikes in their natural environment, in JPEG form.
(22 entries)

First
Cypripedium calceolus
by Karen Gregory

Cypripedium calceolus
Second
Anacamptis morio
by Denise Harper

Anacamptis morio
Third
Anacamptis coriophora
by Gillian Elsom

Anacamptis coriophora

Class 10: A flower spike of a single orchid in its natural environment, in JPEG form.
(22 entries)

First
Platanthera bifolia
by Gillian Elsom

Platanthera bifolia
Second
Orchis mascula
by Ivar Edvinsen

Orchis mascula
Third
Dactylorhiza sambucina
by Alan Blackman

Dactylorhiza sambucina

Class 11: A close up of an orchid, showing one or more entire inflorescence(s), in its natural environment, in JPEG form.
(24 entries)

First
Orchis simia
by Peter Vaughan

Orchis simia
Second
Orchis ×angusticruris
by Denise Harper

Orchis ×angusticruris

Third
Ophrys ×pietschii
by Mark Dowie

 

Third

by


Class 12: A close up of an orchid showing part of an inflorescence in its natural environment, in JPEG form.
(23 entries)

First
Ophrys insectifera
by Denise Harper

Ophrys insectifera


Second
Ophrys apifera
by Tony Fielding

Ophrys apifera
Third
Ophrys lunulata
by Ivar Edvinsen

Ophrys lunulata

Class 13: A view of an orchid with pollinator, in its natural environment, in JPEG form.
(11 entries)

First
Epipactis helleborine (with wasp)
by Mark Dowie

Epipactis helleborine
Second
Gymnadenia borealis (with Polyommatus icarus)
by Catriona Matheson

Gymnadenia borealis

Third
Epipactis helleborine (with wasp)
by Tony Fielding

 

Epipactis helleborine

Third

by


Class 14: An orchid subject that is growing in cultivation, in JPEG form.
(7 entries)

First
Spiranthes spirales
by Janet Hails

Spiranthes spirales

Second
Disa uniflora
by Ivar Edvinsen

Disa uniflora

Third
Pecteilis radiata
by Bill Temple

 

Pecteilis radiata

Third
Orchis ustulata
by


Class 16: Novice class, any hardy orchid, in JPEG form.
(10 entries)

First
Orchis purpurea
by David Livermore

Orchis purpurea
Second
Ophrys sphegodes
by Stuart Meeson

Ophrys sphegodes
Third
Platanthera chlorantha
by Tony Fielding

Platanthera chlorantha

Class 17: A hardy orchid subject that has been manipulated creatively using any advanced software technique to create an artistic image, print size up to A4.
(4 entries)

First
Ophrys rhodia
by Janet Hails

 

Ophrys rhodia

Second
Platanthera bifolia
by Gillian Elsom

Platanthera bifolia

Class 18: A hardy orchid subject that has been manipulated creatively using any advanced software technique to create an artistic image, in JPEG form.
(7 entries)

First
Dactylorhiza fuchsii
by Janet Hails

Dactylorhiza fuchsii

Second
Dactylorhiza caramulensis
Alan Blackman

Dactylorhiza caramulensis
Third
Orchis purpurea
Gillian Elsom

Orchis purpurea