Fran Yates
September 2023 - Dreamy Dahlia
Original
About the Image(s)
I was fortunate to visit the Swan Island Dahlia Farm in Canby, Oregon last month.
I chose this Dahlia because of its “s”. The photo was taken with my Lensbaby Velvet 56 at F4.0. I used the Exposure sliders in ACR and cropped in on the right to get rid of the green leaf. I cropped down to put more emphasis on the Center.
In PS, I cleaned the petals and used the remove tool to get rid of what remained of the leaf. I brought it into Topaz Studio 2 to sharpen the center and s.
Finally, using NIK Color Efex Pro I used a slight vignette.
(I have tons more dahlias to share….get ready)
12 comments posted
Wow Fran, this is beautiful! I would hang this on my wall. Love how you cropped it to focus on the middle. The vignette is great. I can't wait to see more! Posted: 09/08/2023 11:06:12
Thank you, Rebecca. I wanted to focus on the s in the center. Posted: 09/14/2023 10:22:07
Lensbaby for sure has a learning curve and I feel you did good with this close-up of the dahlia. Interesting pattern of the petals with their twists and turns. I noticed after looking at the original and the final image the bottom half on both images is very sharp and the top half is not sharp. I know this is the Lensbaby look, I have several Lensbaby lens. To my eye I would like to see the middle sharp and all four sides with the soft look and not the bottom half. I feel this would put more emphasis on the center and give better balance to the image. Posted: 09/13/2023 20:37:45
Thank you for your input, Dick. The center of the dahlia in focus is another concept. I have several photos of this Dahlia, with different lenses and apertures, as well as stacking, but it is this image that spoke to me. It is the dreaminess of the Velvet 56 that appeals. My goal was to have the eye go to the petal curves, and reviewing the photo, I think I would like to see all the s curves in focus. I have taken a couple of courses with Kathleen Clemons. She is known for the soft look of Lensbaby and recommends that the front of the flower be in focus and the soft focus moves back. Lensbaby, truly is a personal choice. Posted: 09/14/2023 10:32:35
Hi Fran, As I mentioned to Dick Dahlias make for great subjects!
I love your image because of the intricate S pattern in its petals, I appreciate the crop that emphasizes the center of the flower and highlights all the intricate details. Additionally, I am a fan of the soft look achieved with the lensbaby. Posted: 09/15/2023 20:32:08
I love your image because of the intricate S pattern in its petals, I appreciate the crop that emphasizes the center of the flower and highlights all the intricate details. Additionally, I am a fan of the soft look achieved with the lensbaby. Posted: 09/15/2023 20:32:08
Thank you, Maria. Your photos are always an inspiration. Posted: 09/18/2023 00:38:30
Fran, you have mastered the Velvet 56! What a beautiful image! I can't wait to see more of your dahlia images. Posted: 09/17/2023 21:04:04
Thank you! The dahlias are just the gift that keeps giving. I am experimenting each day with new ways to post process. Posted: 09/18/2023 00:39:30
Hi Fran, As soon as I saw this, I thought "Bride". It somehow makes me think of a beautiful dress. Your lens baby work gets better and better. I think the fade outs are lovely. I wonder about the color, maybe a lighter shade may work. Either way well done! Posted: 09/21/2023 13:32:51
Thank you, Melanie. Are you thinking a color more like the original? Posted: 09/22/2023 17:18:37
Not quite My eye says to reduce the yellow I guess it goes back to me seeing a bridal dress Posted: 09/22/2023 17:46:49
Thanks... Posted: 09/22/2023 17:53:35