Red Flower - my first PS'ed photo

[kro77]

Hi Everyone this is my first attempt at trying to spice up with the trial of PS3. I got the idea when I converted the phot to B&W and thought it was quite dull, but I remembered back to my photo oil days and how I would wash color onto photos to give them this kind of look. The first photo is the basic unprocessed image (except for the raw to jpg white balance tuning) the second is my modification. I would be curious what people think.

Thanks again



And the processed

[xxpinballxx]

I like this alot.I have seen some like this that makes the subject look laered int oa background. This one has some nice shadows ad highlights and the background is blurredjust right...I think it is a grat photo. others might have some more proffessional advice but from a novice photographers point o fview its a great shot and good PS work.

[jiminyClickit]

kro77, Welcome

Good choice, good photo, good work.

[xxpinballxx]

wow jiminy...short sweet and to the point. I always look forward to yours and Saras and wulf critiquing. You three always seem to have good useful advice.
I guess Kro you hit this one out of the park!

[jiminyClickit]

Sometimes good useful advice can be "keep doing what you're doing." And sometimes I can't keep my eyes opeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[kro77]

I think I lucked out on this one. I got home from work, and the flowers had just started to pop and the sun was setting and this little guy caught my eye. I guess there is truth in the rumor that dusk and dawn has the best light. I will see if I can PS another from the series and see what people thing about that one.

[xxpinballxx]

Originally Posted by jiminyClickit

Sometimes good useful advice can be "keep doing what you're doing." And sometimes I can't keep my eyes opeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

LOL! So true.....thanks for all your posts they have helped me alot.

Kro I found that to be true about the lighting, just after sunrise and just before sunset always makes for great lighting especially landscapes and skyline shots.
I love the morning shots when there is dew on the foliage great time for macro shots.

[wulf]

I think it is a good shot - you have done a neat job on the partial desaturation (except that leaf in the bottom left ) but, if anything, I think I am more drawn to the original. The neutral golden tones work well as a background and I don't think it needed adjusting other than to experiment with the technique (IMHO, partial desaturation really comes into its own when the original has background elements that distract because of bright or clashing colours).

What I think might benefit the picture would be a little bit more cropping, losing some more of the space around the flower (in effect, making it larger) and pulling the stem nearer the left hand side.

Wulf

[xhan]

I actuallly prefer the first shot! because of the warm background - I'd crop/clone out the is it a tree trunk? on the left though.

[purplepixie]

I agree with wulf and xhan - the original looks great. But a good PShop edit as well.