Peggy Nugent
January 2025 - Spring Dreams in a Snowstorm
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About the Image(s)
I started with the branch on the sidewalk. The white spots reminded me of snow, so I reversed the image and duplicated it, in lighter color mode, and brushed in more "snow". I added the color layer (an ICM shot) in color mode. The branch wasn't working, so I cloned it out and added the flower in Pin Light mode, then a second layer of the flower in Luminosity mode at 78%. I used a Hue/Saturation layer to shift the background colors.
The image was too vibrant and harsh, with the flower overwhelmed by the background, so I set it aside for quite a while. When I came across it again, I remembered the group's recent suggestions for a radial gradient and changing background contrast and saturation to make the subject stand out. I was working with a stamped layer by this time, so I added the green gradient on a layer in overlay mode and then doing a levels correction. I partially desaturated the background by added a stamped layer in b&w in color mode at 39% and then repeating the flower layer in Pin Light mode. I added a strong white vignette.
13 comments posted
And I guess we've gotten the real snow now, too. Posted: 01/12/2025 16:25:52
That's an interesting suggestion. Here's a first cut at what I think you meant (I'd want to add some snow accumulating on the flower if I continued). I like that it looks more realistic, but I feel I've lost a little of the connection with the flower. Posted: 01/12/2025 16:37:41
I understand what you mean about placing the flower higher. I think that would make the flower more prominent and more obviously the subject. The flower is competing with the background here.
For me, the image is actually more about the background, so maybe I should crop a bit from the bottom. Posted: 01/12/2025 17:12:41
It tells a story and has artistic appeal.
The jury is out on whether the flower should occupy more space, but then again the story is about the snow falling, the subject therefore is both of them.
I like it, its airy, and colourful.Cheers. Posted: 01/13/2025 15:44:17
Hi Peggy,
You've created such an appealing, colourful image of this sunflower under the snow. The colours look truly magical with the soft pastel tones, and the composition of the flower blends beautifully with the textures in the image. I agree that it would work wonderfully as a greeting postcard!
I'm also wondering if the flower might benefit from being more prominent in the frame, or if the story is best told as it is.
Such a lovely, dreamy image! Posted: 01/20/2025 10:18:47
I've tried the flower larger, and don't like it as much. But I agree that I've created a confusion here about what the center of interest is (snow or flower?). So now I'm playing with making the flower smaller. Posted: 01/20/2025 14:43:45
