Flower Photo Competition 2 2012 : Entry Number 173

Is it paper or a real flower! Different and special, how this photograph was taken. Almost like a tissue - delicate and clean.

My name is Mary Elizabeth Rawl, from Gilbert, SC and this is a real moonflower that opens evenings and dies the next day. It opens in a circular path and I shot a series of photos during the whole process that took about 15 minutes. I used a Canon Rebel XS with an 18-55 lens set on the sports setting for fast action with camera flash. Shot straight down over the flower. Only a little tweaking on the contrast in post processing. Thanks for the mark of excellence on this shot.