I agree that this is most likely due to the camera. That said, temperature can effect the color of some flowers. Also age can be a factor, color can fade as the flower ages.

January to March is orchid show season in the NY,NJ,PA, area. They are sponsored by local orchid societies. Great place to gain information and the selection of plants available is amazing.

I actually planned to join a local orchid society in the near future because of that particular aspect but I completely forgot once I entered the nursery! I got too caught up in the moment looking at orchids hah! I have a relatively decent idea of what will definitely not work in my environment so I'm keeping an eye out for the kinds that can better bounce back from stress and are more easy to care for. At first I also assumed it was a Sharry Baby Harvey but I found that the photos of Heaven Scent 'Redolence' match the plant to a tee. And thank you Harvey for wanting to help out a fellow newcomer! I live in NYC and have only been able to find 2 orchid societies nearby. The Manhattan and Long Island, I'm not sure if there are any more societies in this area. I consider New Jersey too far and a real hassle to travel to (I don't drive). Those may be the only 2 societies in my area but once I know for sure I can afford to invest in this new addictive hobby, I am definitely joining!

Thanks James! I was wondering when orchid shows occur here. I'm glad to hear it'll be coming up soon. I considered the camera being the biggest influence on the color. I hear that official photos of AOS awarded orchids are extremely strict and must accurately represent the orchid. I'll try taking a look there if I can find more photos. It's a relief to know what other factors affect the colors. I didn't consider temperature to be a possible influence.

Thanks Harvey and James for all the advice! Orchids are such a huge topic with so much information that it's probably a huge pain to give advice about. I really appreciate that you guys took the time to help out

Another thought on color. I have many orchids that the color of the flower changes. Mostly fades but some actually change in time. I imagine both societies would be high class in their locations. Perhaps be a visitor to both before picking one, or join both. You will find growers with the same challenges and solutions that are of interest to you. You will have excellent exposure to plants for sale at the meetings. Speakers compete for dates with those addresses. Let us know of your orchid club experiences. Thanks.

I grew my orchids in NY and belonged to the Greater Westchester Orchid Society (GWOS). We had many members from the City. It is located in Pt Chester and you can take Metro North which is a short walk to the Orchid Society meetings.

I don't know if that would be helpful to you. Otherwise, best to visit the Manhattan Society which is fabulous.

NY has a lot of orchid growers and are quite successful growers. You'll learn lots of tips and tricks.

I agree with the above posters regarding the color differences. Also, exposure to light can change the color of blossoms. I used to grow large white Phals which I used to display on our large black piano. The blossoms would last for six months. But I had to keep the flowers away from the windows or they would begin to get greenish.

Jane

The idea of the flower colors changing with time is incredible! Harvey I will be sure to share my newbie experiences with the orchid club. I'll be joining when I am certain I can afford to indulge in the hobby :) I just hope that the location doesn't drastically hike up the prices of the orchid sales they hold

Jane if I lived closer to Manhattan I would've tried attending a GWOS meeting but it's a bit too far and time consuming from my location (Queens) which is too bad. I was thinking that the orchid buds blooming under the nursery's poor lighting might make the colors less vivid but I'll find out for sure when I visit them more often. It's nice to hear a fellow former New Yorker that has gotten into orchid growing too. Did you have any favorite stores or neighborhoods you liked to visit dor orchids? I like going to different shops just to admire the colors and patterns. All the shop owners probably dislike me lol