This is an image from long ago before I knew about rules and guidelines and such. I just did what looked and felt right to me. Surprisingly, it is one of the most popular with folks who have been reviewing my collection and one of only two images that I have actually sold.
There are a couple things I might do differently today (like NR on the BG) but I can't argue with the "success" of this one.
All that said, I'm open to ways to improve it further, or improve another to be taken in the future.
Can't argue with success either Jim !!!!! Agree with your assessments Love the Obelisk pose and what a beautiful Dfly I think your image would be stronger without the extra green running diagonally Frame wise is just personal choice I don't go for frames !!!
Hi Jim, I love the perspective that you have achieved here - lovely sharp image against the comlimentry soft BG. The bottom green stem running diagonally doesn't worry me too much but would have an attempt to remove broken stem at base of main perch. Personally I find the frame a bit over powering.
I reworked this a little. Sadly, at the time I made this I was shooting JPG, but I do still have the out of camera original to start with.
I got rid off the extra green (I'm undecided on that, but it's on a layer to add back if choose), got rid of the brown BG spot and smoothed the BG a lot with some cloning and blurring. I tried to touch up the wings, especially the one on our right side, but I'm not happy with that yet.