Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

Grabbed a photo I took a couple of years ago and wanted to try some procedures I have learned since then.

Before I get started I do understand I probably took the long way to get to my final edit. I will not mention all the layers I tried and looked terrible and tossed.

I got my picture from my Lightroom data base.
Opened in Photoshop CC
Duped layer
Made a mask with Quick Selection Tool
Once mask was made refined edges manually using paint brush
Opened first layer Camera Raw and darkened for background and brought Highlights down.
Blurred Background with Gaussian Blur.
Added new layer but keeping the main flower layer on top. Used a cloud brush and painted white clouds. Blurred layer. This created a glow around the flower while creating an additional texture in the background. Set layer to 55%
At this point background was looking too bright.
Added another layer solid black and set Opacity at 60%
At this point it looked fairly good wanted a small amount of vignette.
Grouped all layers and made a composite layer (Shift>alt>Command>E)
Opened this new composite layer in Camera raw and applied a min vignette.

(Download)


(Download)

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Jim, Great Post processing makes for an outstanding image.

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

Thanks Stan, It looks a little fuzzy on this page better on the download page. Thanks for stopping by.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Great example and greatly improved! An additional idea would be to add some saturation or WB change to the colors. The green of the leaves are a bit washed-out by the light. You can test these subtle ideas quickly in LR against the finished image:

WB:
Temp +3
Tint -5

Presence
Vibrance +5
Saturation +5

HSL - Luminance
Green -10

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

Thanks CHG. Never ending to adjustments had to stop somewhere

I did try you moves. I see what you mean.

Charlie'smom

Very nice job!

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

Nice job, Jim. Know well what you mean about 'all the layers I tried and looked terrible and tossed....'

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

It looks great. Just out of curiosity, how long did it take?

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

Thanks Cany

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

About 2 hours. The longest time was the masking, probably took over an hour just for that. Went over each one of the blue fingers on top at least 2 times and then cleaned up in between some of them.

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

Great job Jim . . . keep up the good work!

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

Thank you for the nice comment.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

Excellent final outcome!

Dziadzi Loc: Wilkes-Barre, PA

Nice work, very impressive.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Looks good - nice job!