A rose by any other name...

[Kerry Perkins]

I don't do flowers much, and I have to tip my hat to those who are so good at them - Denise, Anita, Cheryl, et al. I used some Topaz filters on this one of course. I used the Lens Effects filter for the soft focus around the outside area, some DeNoise and Detail and attempted an Orton effect. Not sure about the portrait crop, but I didn't like the squarish crop that seems more logical. What say ye?

[Paul Lagasi]

I think your crop works very well, I like how the rose fades at the edges, and that its just a bit off center...well done

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hi, Kerry, I think this is lovely and I like the crop. I can't envision another crop that would work as well. I think I'd remove that dark spot to the right of the bottom center petal.

[Nancy Bell]

The softness, the glow and the swirling edges of the petals work beautifully together. You can get lost in the depth. I like this crop. It makes it a bit more abstract.

[Anita Bower]

I think your crop works well. Interesting color combination you achieved here. I'm curious about lens effects filter: do you find you use it much?

[Kerry Perkins]

Thanks everyone! Anita, I do end up using the lens effects filter more than I thought I would. I use it mostly for blur vignettes and selective focus. It also has a ton of useful effects, like bokeh, which can be applied to a bg layer for a really nice blur.

[Anita Bower]

Thanks everyone! Anita, I do end up using the lens effects filter more than I thought I would. I use it mostly for blur vignettes and selective focus. It also has a ton of useful effects, like bokeh, which can be applied to a bg layer for a really nice blur.

Thanks, Kerry. Sounds like I'd use it a lot.