Belly Button

I managed to take a beautiful photo of a bright red zinnia today and when I got it into CS3, I started to play around with it. I couldn't get over how the center reminded me of a belly button.

I added a radial zoom (filter/blur/radial blur) to all but the very center of the image and then 'pinched' the center (filter/distort/pinch). I think I desaturated the reds just a touch, too.

This is outstanding, my dear Jules!
The highlights on the radial give the whole thing a beautiful glow. Perfect choice of center compo that would also work as vertical.

Way to go!!!

Hi Julie, I do not normally go for flower pictures but this is a bit special :) love everything about it :)

Tell

Very nice. Love the depth of the red, so many shades.

Very creative Julie! Thanks for sharing your technique, I will have to play with that!

BTW no chop needed here:D

Dan Brown

http://naturestoc.smugmug.com/

Julie: Just wonderful -- I, too, want to try this.

Hi Jules,
Just yummy - I want to touch it..
Regards,
Nicki

I'm glad so many of you are enjoying this one. I'll check what I did when I get home tonight and try to set up a simple tutorial in the education section so you can all give it a try.

Hi Julie,
I like the silky radient glow on this one. Very good use of lines and ridges in a symmetrical pattern. The center placement of the flower in frame works well here. Congrats...:cool:

simply fantastic!!! looks like a zoomblur!!

So crisp, sharp and plain beautiful !!!

Oh, I get it. Saving your best shots for over here huh - fine. :D Good stuff Julie.