Denise McKay  


Painted Mum by Denise McKay

October 2021 - Painted Mum

October 2021 - Denise McKay

Original

October 2021 - Denise McKay

Original 2

About the Image(s)

With fall approaching, I added some potted mums to my apartment balcony to enjoy. This image is from one of those plants.

I took this shot with my 90mm macro lens, fairly early in the morning, hand held, with the settings of f5.6, shutter speed of 1/100 sec, ISO 500. I knew I wanted to make a "painted" image of this flower right from the start, so here are my edits:

In Lightroom I cropped then increased the overall exposure and clarity on the flower, opened the shadows some, then removed some spots. I used the radial filter to surround the flower but inverted the filter so that I could darken the exposure on the background only, turning it black to block out the distractions. I went back into the flower with the radial filter and adjustment brush to make selective edits to slightly increase exposure again in certain areas. That resulted in the Original 2, first edit.

For part 2, I took the photo into Topaz Studio 2 and added 4 filter layers which I customized as follows:

Smudge - 100% opacity, .26 strength, increased sharpness 9%

Impression - 60% opacity for the chosen brush stroke.

Color Overlay - I choose a light pink at 5% opacity, just to give the background a pink tint. I used a mask to take some of the color off the flower itself since it was already pink.

Texture - I choose a texture from their paper/fabric category called Meadow Mist at 20% opacity. I used a mask to paint off some of the texture from the flower at different levels of opacity.

I used a normal blending mode for all layers.

Back in Lightroom, I touched up some of the background using the spot removal tool as there were a few places I felt needed touching up.


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




Michael Moore   Michael Moore
A truly beautiful image Denise. The composition is really nice with that extra little mum poking out to add interest. You have really achieved that soft painterly quality you were going for with your processing and I can easily see this one on the wall. I would not change a thing.   Posted: 10/08/2021 09:21:29
Denise McKay   Denise McKay
Thanks Michael!   Posted: 10/12/2021 07:50:58



 
Denise, fall mums are such a treat, and the coloring here is so delicate. I like what you've done to produce a lovely, soft and painterly image.

To my eye, it could use a bit more to complete the arty look. So, in PS I transformed the flower larger and used it as a texture (two different times / layers, with rotation), masking the original flower with a graduated (radial) filter. I also added a stroke, frame and drop shadow to "finish" off the image.

P.S. After posting, I realize the pink frame is hard to see on this light gray background.   Posted: 10/10/2021 08:57:48
Comment Image
Denise McKay   Denise McKay
Hi Witta. Thank you for your additional creative edits to make this a virtual framed piece of art. When you click on the image, the pink frame shows up nicely, so no worries.

I like my version and I like your version as well. What you've done makes it look a little more like it's among a group of flowers rather than standing alone. That gives me food for thought when I'm working with an individual subject like this.
I appreciate your efforts!   Posted: 10/12/2021 07:50:18



Connie Reinhart   Connie Reinhart
Lovely. What else can I say?
  Posted: 10/10/2021 13:32:19
Denise McKay   Denise McKay
Thank you Connie.   Posted: 10/12/2021 07:51:14



Linda M Medine   Linda M Medine
WOW, Looks like two people dancing, a parent and a little child. I love the softness. and the detail. I would not change a thing.   Posted: 10/12/2021 14:34:34
Denise McKay   Denise McKay
The parent and child concept came to me as well Linda! Thanks for your comments.   Posted: 10/13/2021 11:13:09



Georgianne Giese   Georgianne Giese
This is a true work of art. I love both your version and Witta's version. The color, softness, and technique are impressive. Great job!   Posted: 10/18/2021 15:14:29
Denise McKay   Denise McKay
Thanks Georgianne! It's really helpful to get feedback to determine if others see what I see.   Posted: 10/19/2021 05:54:17



Bob Crocker   Bob Crocker
(Group 57)
Beautiful image, Denise. Your decision to move beyond the black background was a good one and I think it truly brings out the painterly effect you were going for.   Posted: 10/28/2021 13:34:49