Lotus Blossom

This is one of a series of Lotus blossoms that I shot at the Missouri Botanical Gardens in late June. RAW image process in LR, a few blemishes on the background leaves cloned out in PS, and then Topaz Simplify / BuzSim was used to add a little bit of a "painted" look to the image, using the default settings for the preset. The image was captured with a 180mm, f/22 @ 1/50. I usually don't shoot subjects distinctly centered in the frame, but something about the play of curves created in the background by the leaves seemed to lend itself to keeping the blossom centrally located...then again, that's why I'm posting this image...I'm not sure it worked! :e3

Great looking base image and nice filter work on this, John. Fine with centered comp, and has a good glow to it. Maybe a bit off the lft and a bit more room on top. Well done!

John,

I think the centered framing is great with this image. Yellows look a bit hot on my screen. Beautiful flower.

John. I like the center crop too. Maybe a sliver more room up top as suggested. I like the glow and Lotus Blossoms are my favorites!:S3: I had the opp. today to shoot a few. Hope to post one soon!

Hi John good advice above, like the image...nice color and DOF, well done

Wonderful composition, John. I like it a lot. Great color and effect. Agree with the suggestions above. Nicely done.

Hi John, very nice blossom. Nicely filtered, agree with a smidge more on top. Well done.

Good show John, and good advice given already. I like the colors and glow to the flower. Would suggest toning down the peaks all around. Good one!

Thank you to everyone for their comments and suggestions...heading out for a shoot now, I'll try to put apply some of the suggestions to the image when I get back...a bit more across the top (that will be a new one...I've never "extended" a canvas before...and tone down the yellows. Got it!

Added the suggestions over my cup of coffee before heading out...toned down the peaks a bit, took a sliver off of the left side and added a sliver to the top. May have downed it down too much...not sure. Thanks again for the suggestions!

Restored a bit of the glow while still not trying to make the image too "hot"....

Beautiful RP John. I think you nailed it!:S3: Great advise and great adjustments..............................

Hey John,
Repost in Pane 10 is my favorite but 11 is very nice too! Great job with the suggestions and oveall this one is a winner!

The small tweaks you did completed a beautiful image to start with. I prefer the RP in #10 better, since more of the details are visible. Nice job! Now you have motivated me to want to processed my Lotus Flower files. :w3

John, the Topaz filter enhanced what must have been a lovely capture. I think I also prefer Pane 10 but really like them all. I do think the added canvas was a good idea.:S3:

Thank you for the comments...Susan, I'm waiting to see some of your lotus images!