Fractals?

[Adrian David]

http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/4278/dsc7771crop.jpg

Exposure Time : 1/125 sec
F Number : 7.1
Exposure Program : Aperature Priority
ISO Speed : 400
Exposure Bias Value : 0.0
Max Aperture Value : 3.5
Metering Mode : Multi Segment
Light Source : Auto
Flash : Flash was not fired
Focal Length : 105.0 mm
ColorSpace : -1
Sensing Method : One-chip color area sensor
Lens : Nikkor 105mm F:2,8

[Julie Kenward]

Very nicely done, Adrian! You did a great job of getting the focus right at the tip of the stamen and, by doing so, got the perfect sharpness at the top and sides of the flower petals. The dark magenta really sets this for a dramatic mood...I bet this would look lovely blown up really large. I like that you kept the pollen in at the bottom of the frame but if you do blow it up, I'd suggest cloning it out so you have just the stunning magenta to set it off.

[Arthur Morris]

Yo Adrian! (Sorry--that's from the first Rocky movie--I could not resist) I like the image design and the rich magneta colors. In addition, the whites are too bright; you can tone them down with a Linaear Burn. (See also in ER below) I checked the image and there are some over-exposed pixels--both whites and reds. Best to re-convert darker after reading several of the great tutorials in Educational Resources. I am with Julie on getting rid of the white flecks.

[Kaushik Balakumar]

Excellent rich colours and patterns. The higlights in the centre look a bit too hot.
Love those veins in the petals.

[Adrian David]

Thank you very much! To all of you...
Arthur, I will try what you have suggested, but I must confess that my skills in Photoshop are not that good...:o

[Arthur Morris]

Thank you very much! To all of you... Arthur, I will try what you have suggested, but I must confess that my skills in Photoshop are not that good...:o

YAW. Let's start at the beginnning: assuming that you are using RAW capture, what do you use to convert your RAW files?

[Adrian David]

I'm using Adobe Camera Raw from CS4!

[Arthur Morris]

Thanks Adrian. Click hre: http://www.birdsasart.com/bn291.htm (http://www.birdsasart.com/bn291.htm) and read the instructions for converting RAW images in item #2: MAJOR BAA DIGITAL WORKFLOW CHANGE.

Be sure that the Highlight and Shadow warnings are active and that you eliminate any flashing red warnings in the flower center. Then process the image as you normally would and post the new JPEG. We will go from there.

[Adrian David]

Thank you very much Arthur!I'll give it a try this evening!

[Arthur Morris]

YAW and okie dokey. I look forward to seeing the repost.

[Adrian David]

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/8343/dsc77711crop.jpg

So..I have converted the RAW file, with ACR,(Adobe 1998, 16b, 300ppi) and saved it as PSD. I have cropped a little from the left and right, and then I've applied a little sharpening with genuine fractals on the full size image.After that I've applied a smart sharpening filter at 0.4, 30%.After reducing the size at 1000pix on the horizontal, I've applied again a smart sharpening at 0.4, 30%.Then I've saved for web with sRGB conversion and 67% quality, to reach the 200kB size.No other PP was used (cloning, NR, etc.)

[Arthur Morris]

Well done and lesson learned. A huge lesson. There are way too many images posted here with needlessly burned whites. Do you see the difference in the whites??? Is there a bug or two in the center, the little black things?

[Adrian David]

Of course that I see the differences...Thank you very much for this lesson!!! I hope I will never forget to apply it!
Yes, I think that are a few little bugs in the center. Tomorrow I will cleanup the image, and after I'm done, I will post it in the final version.
Once again, Thank you very much, for your support!

Adrian.

[Arthur Morris]

YAW. I would use the Patch Tool and maybe a Quick Mask or two to eliminate the bugs and the white sutff. Details on those and tons more can be found in our Digital Basics File.

[Adrian David]

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/1801/dsc77711cropcleangf.jpg

This is the final version! I hope I did it right...

[Arthur Morris]

It is pretty much fantastic! Way to go.

[Adrian David]

Thank you very much, Arthur, for your help and patience!!!
It was an honor, "working" with you :).

[Arthur Morris]

My pleasure Adrian. I like working with students who get it!