I was going to do some colorful water lily pads and somehow I started down a different path. I used Fract. slow motion and Nik Grad Neutral Density filter to darken the top part, and finally Nik Silver Efex with some coffee toning and a frame (I like Nik's new upgrade). I fixed a couple of the ragged edges on one of the pads but left quite a few of the blemishes since I wanted it to feel like they were at the end of their time.
Thanks for looking. Comments and suggestions appreciated.:S3:
10-20-2011, 06:49 PM
Dennis Bishop
Nice composition, Cheryl, and I really like the range of tones. Leaving the blemishes was a good idea, too. And I agree about the new version of Silver Efex. It made a good product even better.
Is that a turtle sticking it's nose through the hole in the upper right lily pad?
10-20-2011, 07:26 PM
Paul Lagasi
Nice composition, love the framing...nice effects...Well done
10-21-2011, 06:00 AM
Cheryl Slechta
Dennis and Paul, thank you:S3: Dennis, it's not a frog but a small leaf - it does look like a frog:t3
10-21-2011, 07:07 AM
denise ippolito
Cheryl, Very nice looking conversion and comp. I might tone down the one area on the pad on the left if it were mine. This is nice it has an almost modern look to it. Well seen.:S3:
10-21-2011, 09:12 AM
John Storjohann
Cheryl, this image evokes a feeling of melancholy...maybe because I love water lilies so much and hate to see the season end! Denise makes a good suggestion, RE toning down the highlights a bit on the one pad...I like the processing you did on this one, and another variation might be to let just a hint of the original color come through on the pads. Nicely composed...there are several crops you could do within this image for different looks, all because you have such a strong base image to begin with. Nicely done!
10-21-2011, 03:35 PM
Andrew McLachlan
Hi Cheryl, love the B&W look. Agree on toning down the brightest leaf. I like the small leaves resting on the pads. Very nice work!
10-22-2011, 01:35 PM
Indranil Sircar
Wonderful composition, Cheryl. It does have a feeling of melancholy as Hazel mentioned. I like the filtered light and bw giving that faded look which conveys the mood very well. Excellent OOTB thinking and processing.
10-22-2011, 02:29 PM
Mitch Carucci
Nice glow!
10-23-2011, 08:19 PM
Bob Miller
Cheryl....i agree with denise...it does have a modern look somehow! Toning down the brightest paddy is a good suggestion. B&W works well with this!