Sunflowers, Pike Place Market

[Judy Howle]

I used DAP with 2 different presets on 2 layers, then I used Topaz Impression on one of those. I blended both versions with the original to create this one.

[Hazel Grant]

I've been there and wondered how to incorporate it all. Here, you've captured the essence of the market--fresh and beautiful. Question: when you say you blended the layers, can you give me a step or two on how to do this? Did you lower the opacity of one and place it over the other?

[Judy Howle]

Thanks Hazel. Yes I opened the original and the 2 versions I used DAP on and in this one they were all in "normal" mode so I just lowered opacity to suit me. One of them I didn't care for the texture so I duplicated it and used Topaz Impression on it and then set the opacity for it. It takes a little time to keep playing with the layer opacities until you get it "optimized" like you want it.

[Nancy Bell]

Gorgeous!! Brilliant lighting on the flowers, brilliant colors, and love the effects on the sunflower petals. Great composition with the bouquet stretching totally from side to side, emphasizing the over-flowing abundance of these flowers! A tiny detail alteration would be to have that slightly different coloring in the upper center behind and above the flowers, touching the top edge, to match the rest of the bkgd; also the same to the extreme upper left corner.

[Dennis Bishop]

What a great combination of colors! I really like the curved top you achieved with the perspective you chose. Although I like the background in the upper left, I agree with Nancy about making the upper center background look more like the rest.

[Diane Miller]

Very nice effect! Happy flowers!

An alternative to lowering opacity is to try blending modes, often with a linked layer such a Curves to tweak the layer.

[Hazel Grant]

Thanks. I have used the opacity technique before but not the blending. Will give that a try.

[Anita Bower]

Love it! A burst of sunshine in my favorite form--flowers. You did a great job with the original image, coming in close. The processing is perfect. Nancy's suggestion is a good one re. the center top. I'm a bit distracted by the center of the lower-center-right flower, which has a strong 3-pronged shadow. Maybe eliminate that. With these minor adjustments, I's say you have a winning image, one I'd enjoy seeing on my wall.
'

[Cheryl Slechta]

Hi, Judy, I think adjusting the background will make this an even stronger image. I especially like the fact that you've left the detail in the centers of the sunflowers while retaining the painterly look. I also like the fact that you included part of the container. Nicely done