On Fire

[Nick Palmieri]

Took this image last year during a very successful trip to Longwood Gardens in PA. This was taken with a 40D, a 70-200 mm lens at 200 with 12mm ext. tube. ISO 100, SS 180 f/11, with a flash with a diffuser cover. It had rained heavily that morning but cleared up enough to get some really great images.

[Julie Kenward]

Nick, it's good to have you back! This is really gorgeous! I love the longer lens and extension tube combo - they really brought out all the raindrops and details beautifully. I really like the soft version you have presented but wanted to see what a bit of pop would add so I did a levels adjustment/contrast 2 and then changed the layer to soft light blend mode and this is what came up. Not better...just different. Seems to really pop that orange. See what you think...

[Jackie Schuknecht]

Beautiful image and the middle really looks like it is on fire. Jules my personal preference is for the first with the more muted colours. But I am sure everyone will have there fav. Very nice Nick.

[Harshad Barve]

Excellent image Nick, water drops and colors are just awesome , another vote for OP
TFS

[Vida van der Walt]

Beautiful image Nick. Love the comp and water drops. Another vote for the softer colours.

[Ed Vatza]

Without considering Jules' repost, I think the OP is absolutely lovely. The comp is terrific. The color looks great. I really like it.

Now introduce Jules' version. I find that I am a fan of bolder colors in my flowers (just look at my post immediately above this one). And I too like to use Nik filters, etc. to just give it that boost. So I guess I am saying that side by side, I would take the re-post with more pop. But again that's just me.

[Nick Palmieri]

Thanks guys. I like them both.

[Ken Childs]

Beautiful, Nick.

I was playing with this image last night when Jules put up her version. I ended up with something very similar except I'd lowered the reds so the orange wasn't quite so bright as her version. I guess my vote goes to something that's between the 2 versions. :)

[Nick Palmieri]

Thanks gang. I ran it through Topaz Detail and this is what I came up with... Wasn't it enough that there were so many cool water lilly's to photograph?? Now there is a million PP scenarios. I still like them all.

[Julie Kenward]

Nick, that's gorgeous as well! It's amazing what you can do when the bones of an image are strong. ;)

[Barbara Kile]

I love each one! I'll take them all! ;)
Seriously, the lighting is perfect, so that allows one to make any part of the image pop. The orange and purple is a lovely combo. Great job.

[Mike Moats]

Hey Nick, an outstanding image, this really has such a great pop. All the version have there own unique look.

[Adrian David]

On fire, it is....Beautiful colors and details.

[Myer Bornstein]

All the images are great in the own way Which you like depends on your mood :)