Terry Campanella  


Aging With Grace by Terry Campanella

May 2021 - Aging With Grace

May 2021 - Terry Campanella

Original

About the Image(s)

Taken on a walk within my development, this magnolia is one of the many I see each day. What I have quickly learned is that their "peak" bloom lasts less than a day but for many, their individual beauty goes beyond that day.

Taken with my Nikon D 5200 on Manual Mode, Lens 55-300; Focal Length 32mm, Speed 1/500 sec., F/8, ISO 200.

Post processing included selecting the flower and then blurring the background. I then reduced the saturation of the entire image then further toned down the green. Next, I created a layer mask and brought back the white petals from the original flower. I also softened much of the image so that your eye goes to the center of the flower. Finally, I cropped and added a white vignette.

Processing this image as given me a new passion for looking beyond the "perfect" and the "peak" to see what beauty can be found in nature.


This round’s discussion is now closed!
7 comments posted




Bev Caine   Bev Caine
(Groups 24 & 48 & 58)
Great job with a dying flower. You brought it back to life.   Posted: 05/16/2021 06:37:19



Walter Naumann   Walter Naumann
Taking out the background is effective. I think the whites are too blown out. The shades of the flower in the original image are better.   Posted: 05/17/2021 09:05:30



Dr V G Mohanan Nair   Dr V G Mohanan Nair
Appears like an excellent painting. Your processing is excellent. The change of background has improved the image a lot. I think the highlights and a little blown out. I tried the denoice in Topaz with recovery of details and unsharp mask 60.6.6 in photoshop.   Posted: 05/19/2021 02:38:01
Comment Image
Terry Campanella   Terry Campanella
Dr. Nair, yes, I do agree that they highlights are a little blown out. Thank you for taking the time to show and explain the adjustments you made. It is definitely an improvement over the original.   Posted: 05/28/2021 10:10:35



 
You have done a great job improving this blossom. We know lighting is everything, especially with flowers. Shooting small flowers in a limited space and uncontrollable wind conditions takes a lot of skill. By changing the background and your other adjustments you have created a beautiful painting.   Posted: 05/19/2021 09:48:06



Bud Ralston   Bud Ralston
(Group 67)
Beautiful, tranquil. Love it.   Posted: 05/23/2021 12:22:45



Joan Funk   Joan Funk
Perfectly lovely. I love the way you handled the background, the saturation, the white petals, and the softness. A masterful job.   Posted: 05/28/2021 07:40:49