Spring is Here - Pretty Flowers

[redleash]

I went to the Botanical Gardens yesterday, in the late morning. The sky was flat but I thought the colors were beautiful anyway. Lots of red poppies are out now. Here are just a few shots. Please let me know your thoughts.

:D Thanks,
Lauren

1. Applied a duotone green gradient on this one to mute the brightness a bit. Also a small crop.
http://redleash.smugmug.com/photos/494298302_8Xxsz-L.jpg

2. Same image as above, w/o gradient or crop. Some levels and curves adjustments.
http://redleash.smugmug.com/photos/494298850_3xjN6-L.jpg

3. Purple Iris
http://redleash.smugmug.com/photos/494299427_cPBPV-L.jpg

4. Some minor curves, plus isolated sharpening on the poppy.
http://redleash.smugmug.com/photos/494299856_5x7LB-L.jpg

[dlplumer]

Very nice set Lauren. :thumb I like #2 and #3 best. The bg in 4 is a little distracting.

[redleash]

Thanks, Dan. I wasn't sure about the background--I like the muted greens in the far back but I can see where the rest of the foliage might be annoying. I have some more isolated poppies so I'll finish processing them and see if I have any keepers.

Thanks for the comment!

Lauren

[Azzaro]

Hi Lauren Nice set....I like 2 and 3 the best also......Why don't you crop 4 a little and get rid of some of the bg...........:thumb azzaro

[redleash]

How's this crop for #4? Did a little burning on the poppy's leaves to subdue them.

http://redleash.smugmug.com/photos/494517380_Che7H-L.jpg

[Travis]

The cropped version of #4 is much better; however, 2 & 3 are still my faves. :D It is so nice to finally see color coming back! :clap

[redleash]

Thanks, Travis. With the long drought we're in down here, the Botanical Gardens are one of the few places to find any color. The famous Texas wildflowers are pretty scarce the past couple of years. :cry