elusive perfection

I picked up a bunch of the most beautifully-coloured carnations I've ever seen, at Prahran Market last weekend. Fresh flowers don't last that long, so I've been trying to get a photo of one of these that does it justice, while I can... but it seems to be impossible with my little compact camera. No matter what I try, I can't capture the vintage cream-lace colour of the petals... this is the closest I've been able to get.