Bamboo

[Cheryl Slechta]

Well, the bamboo may be all natural but the processing wasn't I started out with Topaz B&W and revealed some of the color. Then contrast color in Nik Color and H&S to change the colors of the bamboo (that part came to me in a dream last night for whatever reason). Then I decided to use DAP - both Camille and then Wet on Wet. I ended up with a very light bottom so I used Nik GND and then Fract. Sketch, then selective shadow and highlights on some darkened areas and this is what I came up with.
Thanks for looking. Comments and suggestions appreciated

[Andrew McLachlan]

Hi Cheryl, love the look. Nicely filtered! I wonder if the brightest leaves should be toned down a little, especially the center ones. I find them drawing my attention.

[Dennis Bishop]

You did a lot of work on this, and it looks good. I like the green and tan together. If it were mine, I might've tried darkening the left hand side a bit. But afterwards, I might just have decided against it because -- as it is, now -- the darkness on the right side almost gives the same effect as composing with the taller bamboo trunks off center.

I was interested in your use of the Graduated Neutral Density filter in Color Efex. Automatically, I'd go a different route to achieve the same end, but next time I'm going to try the GND filter. Thanks for mentioning that.

[Bob Miller]

Cheryl.....I like this as is...The colors are really quite lovely. I like the combination of sharpness and blur. Great processing! What is DAP?

[Julie Kenward]

I also like it as is. I do see where the leaves could be toned down but I think it would disturb the ethereal quality that you've achieved here.

[John Storjohann]

Cheryl, I'm jealous......I've had an image of bamboo stalks in the back of my mind for about two years now, and in spite of shooting them on several occasions at the local Botanicals, have yet to get the image I wanted. You NAILED this one...I would, as mentioned by others, tone down a few of the leaves with bright highlights, but not much...the composition, the processing and the use of color here is simply superb..nicely done!!!

[Judy Howle]

Very nice composition, colors and use of filters. I agree with others on toning down the brightest leaves.

[Cheryl Slechta]

Thanks, everyone for your comments. Sorry I'm so late replying. I'll tone down the brightest leaves just a tad.