Theme: Parrot Tulip on Red

[Anita Bower]

I'm using this theme to explore new ways of processing my photos. I hope you will provide feedback, even if it is to say you don't like it. I find it frustrating to post an image and not get comments, or only get comments when they are positive. I also need the feedback that tells me that something isn't working.

The main effects were created by textures: "Red Leather Texture": https://www.flickr.com/photos/pareeerica/2240956835/; "Undersponge (Variation 3) [altered by me]": Joel Olives; "Painting Texture 2": Coffee Shop.

[Michael Gerald-Yamasaki]

Anita,

Greetings. Cool bright colors, Anita... and certainly different from you. The contrasting greens work well to pull the flower from the background. The background/texture I think would serve better if the part behind the flower were not brightened, were more like the lower portions of the background. Particularly the white leather details are distracting from the main subject.

An aside... I've always appreciated you comments on my photos. I'm trying to keep posting comments but am in my annual artistic funk (almost always from the beginning of the year :-( ... Seems that perhaps some others are in the same boat? Anyway please keep posting... more comments will come as they will.

Thanks much for posting.

Cheers,

-Michael-

[Anita Bower]

Anita,

Greetings. Cool bright colors, Anita... and certainly different from you. The contrasting greens work well to pull the flower from the background. The background/texture I think would serve better if the part behind the flower were not brightened, were more like the lower portions of the background. Particularly the white leather details are distracting from the main subject.

An aside... I've always appreciated you comments on my photos. I'm trying to keep posting comments but am in my annual artistic funk (almost always from the beginning of the year :-( ... Seems that perhaps some others are in the same boat? Anyway please keep posting... more comments will come as they will.

Thanks much for posting.

Cheers,

-Michael-

I see exactly what you mean about the light areas of the leather texture being distracting, and I agree. Thanks for pointing this out.

Re. artistic funk--I go through them now and then. I had one last spring that lasted several months. It is hard to know when to push and when to relax into the funk.

I'm glad you find my comments helpful. I want to give feedback that will help improve the image, but also support and encourage the photographer.

[Wendy Kates]

Anita,
I'm a little undecided about this one. I always love your flowers against softly textured backgrounds. The "red leather" texture distracts from the flower for me, since the textures are so different. But I love the flower, and the vignetting of the bg.

[Paul Lagasi]

Anita I love the texture of the background. The big green leaf/petal seems a bit distracting, and draws my complete attention. Maybe softening might help but that just one persons opinion. Well done.

[Anita Bower]

Thank you Wendy and Paul for your comments. They help me see this image as you see it. Very helpful!

[Jackie Schuknecht]

I love the red background with the tulip, the positioning, and the one petal falling off to the right. I must confess the first thing I noticed was the texture from the leather too. But kudos for trying the red BG, it rocks!

[Moe Ali]

I like the leather textured look behind the flower, it gives the image an "old and new" look, if you know what I mean. I would prefer to see more texture running down the image, so kind of the opposite of removing the brightened areas. I think the image has a nice post-card look to it. The other thing that seems to distract my eye are the two orangey spots on the top of the flower. One kind of central and the other to the left. I'd rather just see the leathery background in their place instead.

Thanks for sharing the image Anita. One of the reasons I like this site is that it helps me get out of my sometimes unscheduled artistic funks

[Anita Bower]

Thank you Moe and Jackie. I appreciate your input! I am encouraged to try more "different" processings!

[Kerry Perkins]

Hi Anita, I like the red bg and the texture, especially if you tone down the highlights of the wrinkles. I applaud your explorations into new ways of processing and think this is a good way to expand our horizons.

[Anita Bower]

Hi Anita, I like the red bg and the texture, especially if you tone down the highlights of the wrinkles. I applaud your explorations into new ways of processing and think this is a good way to expand our horizons.

Thanks!

[Diane Miller]

I'm in my annual (becoming chronic) too-busy funk. Was cruising around here with hardly time for a decent comment, much less critique. But just have to say I don't mind the texture around the flower. I think I'd experiment with a different color on the texture. Don't know how you put them on but if they're on a separate layer you have a lot of flexibility with a simple Hut-Sat adjustment.

Keep experimenting!!

[Anita Bower]

I'm in my annual (becoming chronic) too-busy funk. Was cruising around here with hardly time for a decent comment, much less critique. But just have to say I don't mind the texture around the flower. I think I'd experiment with a different color on the texture. Don't know how you put them on but if they're on a separate layer you have a lot of flexibility with a simple Hut-Sat adjustment.

Keep experimenting!!

Thanks, Diane. I won't have time to do much for the next 2 weeks as I will be travelling.

[Bob Miller]

HI Anita...I looked at this for some time and just can't suggest any improvements. I like it very much as is....esp the leather texture. I will have to add a leather texture to my collection...I like what it does!

[Anita Bower]

HI Anita...I looked at this for some time and just can't suggest any improvements. I like it very much as is....esp the leather texture. I will have to add a leather texture to my collection...I like what it does!

Thanks, Bob. I found this free texture on flickr: Textures for Layers group.