Plum trees

[Cheryl Slechta]

I've been working on multiple exposures with the Canon 5D Mk III this week but I'm also working on Ortons, digital sandwiches, etc. I took one of the images of some dormant plum trees from LaChua Trail at Paynes Prairie Preserve and first increased exposure +1.5 in PS5, then did a Gaussian blur. I took a duplicate copy of the image that I had taken the Clarity down to -100 in Lightroom and pasted in on top of the blurred image using the Multiply Blending mode.I like the delicate, almost hand colored look that I got

Don't forget - Dave Phillips Tribute theme starts on Saturday. Let's do Dave proud!!!

[Cheryl Slechta]

I think I can crop some off of the top and then eliminate that diagonal branch on the upper left edge.

[Dennis Bishop]

I think I can crop some off of the top and then eliminate that diagonal branch on the upper left edge.

Cheryl, it's wonderful just the way it is. I love the colors, the soft impressionist look, and the composition. (If you're really thinking you don't want that branch, here's another thought about how to handle it without compromising the composition by cropping. Make a duplicate layer and add some additional blur to the top corners with a mask and soft brush.)

[Laura Weishaupt]

Cheryl, this is lovely. It has a soft etheral quality to it. Perhaps soften the lighter blue area in the upper left, but the branch does not seem distracting or out of place. All of the branches add to the deapth and give the eye places to go. Cropping up there may result in more loss than gain overall. It's very nice as is.

[Steve Adkins]

Agree it looks beautiful as is, Cheryl. Very interesting combo of methods and effects. My first impression was a painting on frosted glass. Love it!!

[Judy Howle]

I like the comp the way it is. The colors and Orton effects work well with the image. I like the soft colors too.

[Maureen Allen]

This is beautiful Cheryl. I wouldn't crop it. My only suggestion would be to clone out the lighter blue area in the upper left.

[Dave Woeller]

I also like it as is. I would also look into Maureens thought on working on the light blue in the upper left.

[Valerio Tarone]

Hi Cheryl really 'pictorial', soft and ethereal. I don't see anything to remove. As you undrestand, I'trying to do things similar. But I don't like to do complex techiques.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Thanks, Valerio, I've decided to try to do more in camera, or with certain techniques (like Orton effects) this year without using as many plug-in filters. This was my first attempt but was really quite simple to do once I played around with it.

Hi Cheryl really 'pictorial', soft and ethereal. I don't see anything to remove. As you undrestand, I'trying to do things similar. But I don't like to do complex techiques.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I appreciate them

[Valerio Tarone]

Cheryl, I've seen what's Orton effect. Yes, it'not too complex.