Title: "One Night of Magic"
Time-Lapse Multiple Exposure of Night Blooming Orchid Cactus, Epiphyllum oxypetallum
Hilo, Hawaii, July, 2002

2006 CREATIVE DIGITAL WINNER, NATURE'S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
2004 PEOPLES' CHOICE AWARD, HAWAII PHOTO EXPO

TOTAL EDITION: 500

SIZE: 11.5" X 16.5" (29 cm X 42 cm)

This epiphyte is often confused with the "Night Blooming Cirrus" flower, which has similar looking flowers, but is structured very differently. Both plant species have large blooms that last a single night. The flower bud slowly enlarges during the day, and begins to open in the early evening. The bloom is completely open by midnight, and has collapsed by morning. The plant, owned by a friend, was loaned to me on short notice. That afternoon, I set up an impromptu mini-studio in my living room, using a black velvet background, reflectors, and a mini soft box over a strobe. Four images were made over a six hour period. The resulting slide images were digitally scanned, then arranged and combined using a computer and Photoshop software.

ON EXHIBITION

Image is on display from November 10, 2006 to Oct. 12th, 2007 in the Nature's Best Photography exhibition at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC