Paphilopedilum orchids
Image copyright by Mark A. Chappell

Paphilopedilum are among the most intricately-patterned of the thousands of species of orchids.   I made the upper two images by shooting the flower against a gray evening sky (left) or a dark background (right), using a ringflash for even lighting on the complex flower.   The one below was photographed at the San Diego Zoo.

above: digital captures, Canon 1D Mk. II, Canon 100 mm macro lens, ringflash for fill-in light (2005) below: Nikon F3, Sigma 105mm macro lens, Kodachrome 64 (1999)