Dreamy looking flower

[Digidave]

I was just messing around with a Macro shot I took. I was messing with Gaussian Blur. I selected everything around the center & blurred it. Then I sharpened the center. I like the dreamy appearance I got but wanted opinions from others. Did I go to far with the blurring? Should I have gone farther with it? Does it look okay or does it look really fake?

[chanedcomm]

At a glance, it looks like a bunch of yellow flowers in a hot red background.

As far as the effect is concerned, I feel a bit too much (blur) and it losses the context of a flower. Not sure... just my personal feeling anyway.

I love the colour a lot though. I'd wonder what the original looks like...

[daylebo5]

ya I too think its a little too blurred. The colors look good too...
if the original is sharp think that would look really good...

[mikem12188]

Digidave,

If your going for the Michael Brown look, you're almost there. I think it's a great shot.

[Teewinot]

Digidave,

I like the selective blurring....very dreamy....nice effect! I also like the in-your-face crop and the colors are vivid. Good job!

[Digidave]

I love the colour a lot though. I'd wonder what the original looks like...

For those of you that are curious as to how the original looks. I shoot in RAW/NEF so I had to lighten & sharpen it a bit. Thanks for the opinions, but the original didn't really do much for me & that's what led me to start playing around with it. If for no other reason, than to make lemonade out of a lemon.

[michellepotter]

I love the shot in the OP. I don't think it's too far at all.

[tufcat]

I actually like the first one better. Interesting effect and colors.

[ellie mac]

Digidave,

I really like the abstract qualities you've created - definite improvement on the original for me.
I'm wondering if you considered a square crop, it might enhance that effect even further to lose the green background altogether. Great as is though!

[chanedcomm]

Thanks for posting the original. I must admit I like this better but again, this is purely personal feeling.