Canon 30D, EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro, tripod: yes, B&W conversion with Lightroom

Some subjects are just more compelling in black and white.  Flowers, especially dried ones, seem to fit that category.  I marvel at the intricate detail of patterns in nature.  Flowers are a favorite subject for that reason.

Deciding on the depth of field is usually a matter of choice for the shooter.  Besides using a small aperture, some photographers are achieving greater DoF by layering separate images that are focused on different parts of the subject and combining them in Photoshop.  I usually prefer some of the flower out of focus, not sure why, just my preference.