Style photographer and magazine editor Sakchai Guy recently applied his considerable energy to the actual nurturing of orchids and - a bit of a surprise considering his acknowledged gift with flower arranging - he's amazed with the results.

Absolutely beaming with delight, he explains that he's just had some terrific news from Professor Rapee Sagarik, known as "the father of Thai orchid culture".

Sakchai had taken a photo of an orchid for Rapee's new book "The Language of Orchids" and, for composition's sake, had snipped off the stem and discarded it.

Rapee called to tell him that the stem - from a South American Psychopsis Papilio "Deirdre" - had sprouted a shoot, seeking a life of its own.

Sakchai, the 46-year-old publisher and editor-in-chief of Lips magazine and owner of the gift shop Geo, was grinning like a proud father. He'd found a new calling.

Admitting that he's starting to get bored with taking glamour pictures after 20 years, he couldn't be happier to discover that flowers are willing to be even friendlier with him.

"I'm glad that I can have my quiet moments to really enjoy taking still-life pictures in my own private sphere, surrounded by nature," says Sakchai, who sometimes signs himself S Guy.

"Every kind of plant has its secret beauty, even if it's just a branch or moss, but orchids have always been my favourite subject. When I take a picture of an orchid I feel calm. It's as though I'm doing meditation."

There's no particular technique involved in shooting orchids, he says. You only need some passion and the willingness to get to know the subject.

"I seriously study flowers so I can capture them at their fullest potential, in their best biological form. And if you don't wait for the right moment, you'll never be able to see how beautiful the pollen of a lotus is while it's budding."

Sakchai's talent as a florist and professional photographer guides him in the creation of a work of art. He knows how to arrange the long tendril-like petals of exotic orchid species to best exemplify their charm.

Sakchai made a name for himself with regard to flowers more than 10 years ago when such notable citizens as MR Krukrit Pramoj, Thanphuying Lersak Sombatsiri and Paothong Thongchua recognised his gift and commissioned him for important functions, including funeral flower arrangements.

"I have always loved Thai flowers, especially orchids," he says. "My house is near orchid farms. The orchid is such a long-lasting flower, and has a sense of oriental and zen to it.

"But when I met Professor Rapee, my world really changed."

The relationship they developed blossoms fully in "The Language of Orchids", compiled by Assoc Prof Prabhabhat Niyom. Rapee's text is wise and inspirational, evoking the bond between flora and man.

"If your spirituality is in touch with the earth," he writes, "you will never forget your humanity."

And like a seed producing a seedling and then a plant, Sakchai notes, knowledge is always growing. "People used to think that orchids were only for the rich, but Professor Rapee has shown that they can be cultivated in any kitchen, in any household."

Sakchai would love to see Thailand host the world orchid exposition or perhaps even have an "orchid national day".

" 'The Language of Orchids' has inspired many people to care more about orchids," he says, "and if one day in the future this dream come true, we'll be proud of it."

The book is available at all bookstores for Bt390.

Kupluthai Pungkanon

The Nation