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Hi all,
As the title suggests, I am trying to develop new processing techniques and would really appreciate your critique and comments in my quest to improve.
Today's post is intentionally on the dark side and if it falls flat on it's face that's OK, I am more interested in your opinions and feedback rather than votes and you can be brutally honest with me.
I'm delighted that my last shotImpressions 2 was well received and thanks for the comments and critique which I found most useful.
Thanks for dropping in and I look forward to your verdict on this one.
Fran
| Brand: | Panasonic (four thirds) |
| Camera: | Panasonic Lumix G2 |
| Lens: | 14-32mm |
| Recording media: | RAW (digital) |
| Title: | Experimental |
| Username: | 
franfoto |
| Uploaded: | 7 Jun 2011 - 3:02 PM |
| Tags: | Close-up / macro, Digital art, Digitally manipulated, Flowers & plants, Specialist / abstract, Wildlife / nature |
| VS Mode Rating |
101 (66.67% won) These stats show the percentage of wins and the rating score that your photo has achieved. You can go to the VS Mode by clicking on this icon. Signup to e2Signup to e2 to see which photo this has won or lost against in the vs mode |
| Votes: | Voting Disabled |
 | Critique Wanted |
| Modifications Welcome (Upload a Modification) |
Comments
This image is interesting and attractive .Rich deep colours with detail well into the shadows on the flower. Background is deep and mysterious too.
To the right is something which I had to guess too much that it was a butterfly. I would suggest either making the butterfly more prominent by lightening just a little and moving more into the main viewing area OR leave the butterfly out and move the flower to one side slightly.
I feel the flower and the background are pretty strong elements alone.
I'm sure your well down the right road,
Ian
agree with Ian on the butterfly but otherwise Fran this is great processing
I like the look and feel of the picture, particularly the glowing heat in the centre of the flower. I do agree though that the butterfly needs to contribute a bit more to the image.
It is certainly a powerful technique but you may find it more suitable for less delicate images. Only trial and error and your good judgement will figure that out.
Eric
STUNNING !!!! What a wonderful image
For me the words THE AWAKENING sprung to mind..
Your image seems to fulfill this to me ... It seems so full of promise
and to think its only a flower 
A very interesting image, Fran, and I have enjoyed reading the comments of others. Your processing skills are obviously excellent, and compositionally I do like the inclusion of the butterfly.
You say the image is intentionally dark.......my only thoughts in relation to that is that the wild rose
was likely to have been a much paler colour, and the same process applied with a more pastel and lighter tone range might be equally acceptable. I would be interested to see such if it were possible. Just my thoughts which I hope do not upset you.
Ronnie.
(PS. I may add that I could not have achieved what you have here......my processing skills are absolutely minimal......R)
I think the dark picture is a very powerful image. I like the butterfly as it is, although I tend to agree Ronnie's comments above. Like Ronnie, my abilities with Photoshop etc do not add up to much, so I do not pretend that these comments are an expert critique. I know what I like, and I like this a lot.
Thanks Ronnie, good observation that the flower is a wild rose and yes....it is a pale pink and I probably will do more versions with it. I didn't know what was going to evolve when I started on this one and on changing the layer mode to 'colour burn' on the textured background layer, I rather liked the boldness and rich tones so went with this throughout the processing. Many thanks for your comments.
Fran
I have to say that I am pretty much in awe of people who can use PS to such an extent. I am beginning to regard myself as pretty much of a LUDDITE when I see images like this and I dont in any way feel qualified to comment. I do however find myself very much in accord with with contributors like Iancrowson/Blue Room and were I clever enough I would attempt their path.
The butterfly seems to contribute very little in its current shape or form.
I think now is a good time for me to shut up !!!
Its a lovely shot Fran.
Ron
I think the colour burn layer made this a very difficult image to do much with Fran - too overpowering with shadows and red - looks flat.
Tried a quick mod.
I have adj highlights/shadows/midtone contrast.
Added a mid blue layer - overlay at 12 % opacity to give the reds a more natural colour.
Adj levels to balance the overall look of the image.
Really think it could work with a more subdued approach.
Brian.
Hiya Fran.
Some good pointers above on this lovely dark image and good use of complimentary colours, the red and yellow work really well. The mods are good.
fwiw , a couple of pointers going forward.
Have a look at colour wheel theory. Its subjective to include/exclude the butterfly , but it would have contributed more as Eric alludes , if you had used an equilateral triangle and found a blue butterfly to complete the primary triad. Its not scary balancing colours and can make a big difference to your art. Heres a link on that part.
As it is , the butterfly is indistinct in its definition and tonality (its the same as the flower) , but try a splash of blue.
Keep in mind scaling and composition as with any photo.Im finding this a little "bottom heavy" . Try setting your crop tool to display the thirds grid and , well you know that bit
atb
Thanks Dave (Eviscera). I've never looked at a colour wheel theory before so your link certainly opened my eyes to balance in this area. I did think of adding a different coloured butterfly when I was working on this but was a bit scared to introduce a third colour. After watching the video, I realise that I should have gone with my instincts.
I'm very much feeling my way around something that I am really interested in and it's never as easy creating art from photography with no formal training and limited knowledge with software, I know what's in my head but creating a vision that others can see is reliant on many physical aspects some of which are nothing to do with creativity but as important to the whole process.
It's the help and advice that is offered by you and others on this site that inspires me to try that bit harder to get things right and I thank everybody for sharing this with me.
Fran
PS I'm trying to work out what fwiw and atb mean, excuse my ignorance but I'd love to know.
I think Dave's hit the nail on the head here as Willlie's mod. shows us.
An interesting and unusual piece of work.
I shall look out for more.
Best wishes,
Bren.
FWIW = For what it's worth.
ATB = All the best.
Rubbish!!!! (I'm allowed to say that 'cos I'm your Husband and you have stopped me having any more chocolate ready for your impending diet)
...............suffering from acute withdrawal symptoms at the moment 
Seriously though, it's all beyond me, my PS skills are minimal so I couldn't suggest any improvement, good and helpful comments have been offered here which sound good to me,
Geoff xx
Here we go again - dozens of comments on a first class image, and virtually nothing on those that need comments to learn.
This is effective and extremely strong. I'm not sure the butterfly was even needed, but, if so, it could do to be a little lighter as it almost fails to register. THe image is all to the top of the frame - I would crop the bottom off to just below the flower, including the logo which pulls the eye.
Paul
Lots of interesting comments. Lots varied advice and opinions. I learn from reading these, so thank you.
I still stand my initial comment. I would expect that you could take a good picture of a wild rose showing the details and colour perfectly. That's not what you trying to do.
My wife had a look and said it is a very lovely image, wonderful colours and subject. She worked in art and design for 35 years, takes a mean photo but does not know the difference between mid tone contrast and aperture. If it pleases the eye, it's good.
Lets see more
Ian
Quote: Here we go again - dozens of comments on a first class image, and virtually nothing on those that need comments to learn.
I agree entirely with your sentiments Paul but unless someone posts their image in the critique gallery or actually asks for advice, I find it's good advice to say nothing.
There are far too many people posting on here who's work tells us that they could obviously benefit from some help but who are convinced that they've produced a masterpiece and will become quite rude, offensive even, at the slightest whiff of criticism, however polite it may be.
Bren,.
Fran,Im not very good at keyboard or reading off screen even though I was a printer...Love the image,would love to see it even bigger....Regards....John
Fran, because I'm mainly a microstock photographer, I don't really get to 'play around' with images! Microstock sites require images to be pretty much straight out of the camera, with only very minor adjustments to saturation and contrast. Consequently, I lack knowledge and skills in processing images like this. To me, it looks just great! I love the rich colours and I like the composition!
Cheers
Phil
A very arresting image with a strong element of 'mystery' - Your textures and manipulation are excellent. For me there is a slight sense of depression - I think because the rose and butterfly are dark with blood red tones. think I may have lightened them a little and moved the color from red toward yellow and orange to bring them out of the dungeon and into the sun. A wonderful experiment. A
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