Connie, Your work paid off! I especially enjoy how the edge of the flowers stand out. The softened background gives the still life an artistic look. I love the result. It also shows that one should never give up on an image that seems to have potential.   Posted: 09/01/2020 16:22:18

Hi Connie,
I really like a lot about this image. The finished image is very pleasing and successful. I think you got what you were after. I like the arrangement of shapes and textures very much.
My only suggestion is to consider that the objects do not relate to each other or tell a story together--consider arranging the ewer with a batch of freshly cut flowers lying on the drape and a pair of scissors. Just an alternative for another composition.   Posted: 09/02/2020 00:40:33

The arrangement composition and the post processing really did this image justice. I understand Stephen's comments about the individual items seeming a bit unrelated therefore not telling a specific story. But I do like the shapes and textures within this picture. Many times when shooting at a conference, you don't have much control over your props!

However, I am wishing the edge of the flower petals on the far right were in the picture as well. If you did that, you'd probably have to add some space on the left to balance everything out again; or maybe not. But just a thought.   Posted: 09/02/2020 15:29:55

Connie, you wrote: "Perhaps if the image requires this much work, I should choose another image." An interesting thought… In my mind, it asks: can the camera or mother nature produce fine art images? Or are they made by the "artist"using their skills and their vision? As you can probably guess, I believe artists make fine art.

I really like the image you chose this month. Great DOF, lots of interesting objects and textures, a lovely muted color range, and excellent lighting. On the other hand, it seems to me that the flowers (the main subject) look synthetic, rather than real. I also find the angle of the washboard problematic - neither vertical nor enough off-vertical to make it seem purposeful.

So, here's a creative straightening job - a double frame, since I didn't want to cut off any of the flowers. Also, I added a "plastic wrap filter" (masked) only on the flowers (at 30% opacity) to add some "texture" so they looked more real to me. BTW, I found this filter while checking out the "underpainting filter" that you had written about. Thanks for sharing.   Posted: 09/02/2020 18:56:29

Hi Connie - your comments about stamping up in Photoshop made me smile - I do exactly the same thing.
I sometimes create two entirely different looks for an image, so I can take the time to consider which one best tells the story.
I don't find the objects in your image disparate - I feel your processing has pulled them together. The objects are old, the flowers fresh. A great story :)   Posted: 09/09/2020 22:32:14

Connie, I like your image and your post processing. Your final image has such a lovely glow to it. It is a beautiful still life. BTW, I do not find the images disparate. The washboard, the spool, the ewer all compliment and serve as support pieces for the magnolia flowers. The washboard is naturally leaning back on the background and together with the spool they balance the flowers. Lovely.   Posted: 09/10/2020 17:52:23

The composition of this image is quite pleasing to my eye. I find the juxtaposition of disparate objects quite reflective of things around my own home! To me, the similar colors unify all these objects. The result is lovely.
The only thing that bothered me about the image, is that there is not a uniform 'blurriness' or softening of the background on the plane of the washboard. The center of that plane is soft while the edges are sharper on the same plane. To my taste, all parts of the background would look better if they had the same degree of softness.   Posted: 09/25/2020 20:02:59