My two offerings - which do you prefer?

PaulThomasMcKee

Homeless, Seattle


Happiness is...teensy flowers, up close

JillG

I've never seen flowers like these, and although they are very pretty, I think Homeless, Seattle is a much stronger photo. It's a very different take on this subject. Your photoshop work makes it look ethereal. I would not have thought her homeless without your title. I would think she was just dreaming.

Don't know if this helps at all.

Jill

PaulThomasMcKee

My two offerings - which do you prefer?
I like both of them - for different reasons.

I rented a 60mm macro lens from Glazer's in Seattle last week after discovering that the auto focus on my one and only lens (18-200mm Nikkor) was no longer working reliably. So, #2 is a macro of a tiny flower from my yard. It just makes me happy to look at.

After returning the lens on friday, I took a stroll through a nearby park where several folks sleeping on benches were doing their best to ignore the noise of the city crews while they mowed and used their blowers. #1 I snapped on my way back to the car (for some reason the auto focus worked for this one photo). I havn't done much candid street photography but I really like this image.

Flyinggina

#2 makes me feel happy too, but #1 for the challenge. The green on the head scarf makes it.

Virginia

Swartzy

Paul...
I'm leaning for #1 on the challenge....I love the macro..nice job. That said...I think the treatment on #1 is a bit much..especially the background bush. Realizing that it's to be a painterly feel..which is ok....I think lessening it a tad may be more powerful. You want this individual real...as in powerful..realistic....making the viewer feel something. Hope this makes sense.

saurora

I'm torn between the two...The sharpness factor in the macro is very nice...unusual little flower and it's bright and perky! Technically not as good, but perhaps more interesting, #1 is probably what I would lean towards. Not much help, am I? I like them both....go with your gut feeling and good luck in the challenge.

Nikolai

Paul,
If nothing else, I usually hate flower shots, so I can honestly say: #1.
It has the story (who's she, why's she wearing this), it has great DOF (three layers - awesome!), nice light - pretty much all man can want.

Flower: meh

Tessa HD

#1
I really like #1, however, to be honest, I think it will go farther if don't have the photoshop effect. Excellent capture!

#2 is some really neat flowers, but don't think it's as strong of an image as #1.

Wish you the best,

Tessa

PaulThomasMcKee

Thanks for all your help
I really appreciate it! Pretty much of confirmed my own feelings about the two pictures.

I'm going to go with #1... It's the one I like better too. I wasn't sure how the PS effect would be received in a "photo" contest, although there are other entries with heavy post processing. I will probably eliminate or at least tone it down in my final entry version.

Thanks again and best wishes to all.

dlscott56

I love #1 for the competition but agree that you could tone down the effects. It's a great photo and doesn't need it.

By the way, what kind of flowers are those anyway?