THEME: TEXTURED PRAIRIE

[Cheryl Slechta]

This is a combination of two images from Paynes Prairie State Preserve - the bottom layer is a stand of wildflowers and the top layer is an image of duckweed that I reduced the clarity and used as a texture. I did this months ago and I'm not sure what blending mode I used. I kind of like the pale palette but I think I'll try a version with more color just to see what it'll look like.

[Dennis Bishop]

What a great idea . . . (using the duck weeds as a texture). With the colors, the horizontals and the diagonals, and the texture from the wildflower layer, this is beautiful. Each layer, on its own, would have its own pattern of tones and shapes. Combining them, I imagine, gave a synergistic result. It's beautiful.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Thanks, Dennis, I'll try it with a multiply dup layer and see if it is better or worse - I know some people aren't as enamoured with pale palettes as I am I'm glad you like it the way it is.

[Diane Miller]

I never thought I'd like a picture involving duckweed -- but this one is very nice. I do like the soft palette!! This is one that could yield many derivative images -- play!!

[Nancy Bell]

This is a beautiful palette. I really like the hints of purple in the bkgd, the yellow in the foreground and all the layers & shades of green. Very Impressionist.

[Dennis Bishop]

. . . I'll try it with a multiply dup layer and see if it is better or worse - I know some people aren't as enamoured with pale palettes as I am . . .

Cheryl, I couldn't help thinking of what you said about pale palettes when I saw the following this afternoon in a book I've been reading on color theory. " . . . rich, low-intensity colors provide the deep, resonant notes that make light-bright, medium-bright, or dark-bright hues sing. Nature is the best model for this aspect of color. The predominant colors of nature are low-intensity (dull) browns, greens, and blues. They form a rich, deep background for the high-intensity notes of flowers, leaves . . ."

Your image is a good example of that.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Thanks, Dennis, I tried a darker, more saturated palette and it did nothing for me Sometimes first instincts are the best.

[LinzRiverBalmer]

Looks like stained glass almost or Batik, very nice

[Judy Howle]

I like the interesting textures you created when you combined the two images. It also has a nice color palette. You know I like bold colors and contrast and would like to see a bit more, just to bring out a little more detail, but it's your vision and it's fine as is.