D3s, Nikkor 200-400, 2.0 TC, f10, 1/80, iso 800, manual focus, matrix, tripod. Swan Island Dahlia Farm, Canby , Oregon. I elected to keep the spider webs. C & C appreciated.
Yummy!! I'm on my iPhone tonight but as far as I can tell the sharpness is just right and the tonalities are drop dead gorgeous. I love the unexpected piece of a leaf at the base to keep the eye from running down the stem and out of the frame.
Gary I like the composition and the complimentary colours of the background in the subject. I would also have left the gossamer threads there. It really is a very attractive image and I think you were right to leave those leaves there also.
I would suggest checking out the brightness/luminance and possibly the saturation of the bud in particular the top right area - it looks a tad hot to me.
Thanks to all for your kind comments and critiques. Jonathan, you are on the money by commenting on the hot top of the bud. Toning down the area IMHO is an improvement. Thanks.
Very appealing, and good separation of subject from the BG. The repost looks better too with that tweak. These flowers bloom so large that it is fun to see it in a small stage of development!