Fantasy Blur

[Judy Howle]

This is a new beginning because it was my first in-camera pan blur. Also made at the waterway on Christmas Eve of some dried weeds in the pond near the marina. (They were there because the shallow pond dried up this summer and had lots of weeds in it.) The colors were very blah and so it was not one to show off as-is but I played around with it and I like the results. Here are 2 versions. The first one is my favorite. I used Fractalius first and then I used Virtual Painter with 2 different filters and several layers with different blend modes to come up with these.

[Judy Howle]

This is the 2nd version, same process but the VP filter - Pastel on canvas - is strong in this one.

[denise ippolito]

Judy, I love the vibrant colors of the first post. The second one has some interesting texture to it but the first one gets my vote!!:)

[Kerry Perkins]

Judy, these are both top-notch in my book. I like the darker feel and saturation of the first one but the second one is nice with the canvas and brighter look. I do like the first post better though, as I feel it has a more "unified" look. Nice job on your first camera blur. Well done!

[Judy Howle]

Thanks Denise and Kerry!

The weeds were beige in color but the late afternoon light gave a slight red cast so in Lightroom I used split toning for highlights to make them a little more red and then when I used Fractalius and Virtual Painter they really brought out the red color. Split toning can do wonders for some photos and is fun to play with. I have used it on several sunset images with good results.

[Ken Childs]

Hi Judy, both versions look great! As they are now, I prefer version #1 but I think if #2 didn't have the canvas texture, I'd like it better. :)

[Christopher Miller]

Nice first blur, Judy! As everyone else has said, both are very good; but I guess I'm in the minority in liking the second one better. I just prefer the brighter look and the little "sparkles," for want of a better word, throughout it. I would might try to tone down the canvas texture a bit though. Very well done either way!

[Judy Howle]

Thanks Ken and Christopher! The main thing I dislike about Virtual Painter plugin is that you can't separate the texture or get rid of it in the various filters. I turned texture down to 0 but it didn't do any good. I guess I'd have to blur it a good bit to remove it. If anyone has an idea that wouldn't remove all the detail, let me know.

[Julie Kenward]

I vote for #1 as well but I really like the blue BG of #2 with the additional details and softer lighting. Both are so graphic and the reds really get your attention!

[Cheryl Slechta]

Judy, I like #1 better - I love the vibrant glowing colors:)