This is an excerpt from ‘Where Wild Orchids Grow’, a publication put together by Swedish Author-Photographer Johan Siggesson detailing the different species of wild orchids found in Malta.

The family of orchids is a relatively young family of plants (approx. 80 million years) but has, in a short time, developed into one of the largest, hardiest, and most adaptable plant families in the world.

Globally, we have roughly twice as many species of orchids as all the world’s mammals and birds combined. Although very diverse, orchids are often relatively rare wherever they grow.

Credit: Johan Siggesson

The vast majority of the more than 25,000 species of orchids in the world are epiphytic. Simply speaking, this means that they grow on trees or clinging onto rock surfaces in the wild. In Malta, however, all the species are terrestrial — growing on the ground.

Being a photographer and not a botanist, it is very tempting to focus on extreme close-ups and be captivated by dazzling shapes and details. When evolution has worked so hard to create mesmerising colours and somewhat sensual shapes, it is almost rude not to give that your utmost attention.

Naturally though, it is also important to show these flowers in a slightly wider context. These are wild plants and are part of a wider ecosystem where organisms exist together to make things work. Going a bit wider often tells a slightly different story.

Credit: Johan Siggesson

Most orchids in Malta are relatively small. Including more of the surroundings in the images would often make the flowers appear even smaller in the picture. For me, this posed a problem. I wanted the orchid to have a central role in every photograph. After all, this book is all about orchids.

Not only did I need to find the orchid I was after, but the orchid also needed it to be in the correct position. Where is the sun rising/setting? Is there too much vegetation obscuring the flower? Is it located in a depression in the landscape or is it slightly elevated? Is it a beautiful specimen or does it look rather miserable? Many were the orchids that didn’t tick enough boxes.

Credit: Johan Siggesson

When finding a specimen that matched most of the requirements, another problem emerged. Can a 185cm tall photographer weighing 120kg fit in the right position between boulders, rocks and thorns, to shoot this perfectly located orchid?

Learn more about ‘Where Wild Orchids Grow’ and get your hands on your own copy of the publication by visiting www.marvellousmalta.com.