This is the beauty of focus stacking I think, you've made a striking photo that seems to jump out of the screen. Well done! I wish we could do this in stereo! Perhaps we could - get that focus rail out and move the camera sideways!!   Posted: 07/06/2025 20:37:18

Pat,
Beautiful textures and colors! You did an excellent job with the focus staking. I have yet to try that technique. I try to keep my post production to very little. Mostly, because I'm already on the computer way too many hours due to my day job of higher ed teaching. However, you've inspired me to give it a go. If this image were mine, I'd be proud. I might backoff on the vignette just a bit.   Posted: 07/06/2025 23:04:30

I like the white vignette which makes the very bottom part of the green stem fade some. That brings out the flower part more. Amazed you could focus stack so well on a monopod. Very nice!   Posted: 07/07/2025 06:10:44

You know I have a fondness for those ethereal looking flower images, and you have really nailed the look. The background works great, the edges are softly vignetted but without too much vignette. There is fantastic sharpness on a flower that would be so hard to get without focus stacking, so well done! There are a couple of areas that are dark green, contrasting against the lightness of the pistils, but those are easily fixed with careful cloning. I once heard a speaker say she actually removed the more troubling ones--sometimes physically (ouch, I hate to see that), and sometimes cloning them out in post.   Posted: 07/10/2025 18:00:21

Pat, what a wonderful image. As mentioned by others the colors and texture are gorgeous. It is a vibrant image, projects energy and life. Clearly focus stacking made it really sharp.   Posted: 07/20/2025 14:58:28