Mart, I really like your purple It is. You caught it at the peak of composition with its petals/ears up. I have to admit that I like your natural background better than the black. I think that is because your subject's petals are naturally dark and your natural background doesn't contain anything out of character.   Posted: 07/08/2025 00:40:28

Marti, beautiful blossom! Purples are gorgeous and works well on a black background. Probably just me, but I'd like to see the entire flower in focus, or, if highlighting particular part of the flower (stamen) then the rest of the flower out of focus.   Posted: 07/09/2025 17:15:32

Beautiful flower. The problem with cutting out a flower with a soft edge is that the edge becomes sharp, & it looks stuck on to the black. Especially on the right, the sharp edge does not agree with the soft flower before the edge.   Posted: 07/13/2025 00:45:53

Hi Marti. I love the color and the texture of this iris. I like the black background, but I think the composition would be improved by adding some more space on the sides, which is easy to do since you've made the background black. There also seems to be a light halo on the right side of the middle petal against the stem, again easily removed. I do wish the right hand petal was in sharper focus, but overall I think this is a well done portrait of a beautiful iris!   Posted: 07/14/2025 16:18:34

Hi Marti,
Greetings my friend.
The color "purple" really goes with the dark background. Choice of the purple outer line, is also well thought and placed. Overall a lovely image.
Thank you for sharing.
Cheers.
Kamal.   Posted: 07/20/2025 07:58:29

Hi Marti, one of my favourite flowers and you have presented it in all its glory. Love the colour and the black makes it stand out really well. Not all of the petals are in focus and my suggestion would be to soften all of the petals with the exception of the one in the front. This would make it the focal point of interest. Overall, well presented   Posted: 07/20/2025 11:10:36

There is a way to soften the edges that I recently learned:
• PS - Ctrl J
• Gaussian blur 12 pixes or so
• Black layer mask
• Paint edges with 05% flow

  Posted: 07/21/2025 16:06:59