Contrast:

[AB26]

Just a rose.

Any comment will be much appreciated.

[TonyW]

I like this - it's more interesting than the classic look, beautiful as that might be.

Whenever I try to take a picture like this I can never get a background that looks as good as those taken by other people. Can I ask how much work was done in PP on this?

[AB26]

Can I ask how much work was done in PP on this?

Thank you Tony, much appreciated.

PP, you ask me about PP? You don't know me yet, do you? Of all the members of CiC I am probably the worst with PP.

You are most welcome to ask.

This is the original.

I adjusted the light in ACDsee by using the Light EQ sliders. Then I sharpened it, resized and sharpened again after resizing. Lastly I added a border.

Tony I am very aware of backgrounds. When composing I look at the background before I focus on the subject. The people here at CiC made me obsessed with backgrounds as they will always gun you about the BG and any distraction. GOOD THING!

Using long zoom lenses helps to get more blur in the BG. Shorter focal length lenses have a deeper DOF than longer lenses.

The closer you are to the subject the shallower the DOF (with any lens) will be and the more you can blur the BG even when using small apertures.

[chauncey]

Andre, I cannot begin to tell you how often I've struggled with that same conundrum.
Your rose plant is great...maybe, as hindsight, added other OOF flowers to the scene???

[TonyW]

Andre, that's interesting. Looking at those two versions on my iPad I can't tell the difference. I understand the physics. It looks as though I need to think more before I click.

[cliffmccartney]

Very nice Andre. To me, this is a great example of why you should break the "rules." The rule of thirds would tell you to put the rose off-center, but this image really works for me just as it is. I think it has kind of an ethereal look that is wonderful.

The only thing I think I'd do differently is to try and put a bit of a dark edge vignette to make the rose stand out a bit. But that's just me.

Very well done.

[AB26]

Very nice Andre. To me, this is a great example of why you should break the "rules." The rule of thirds would tell you to put the rose off-center, but this image really works for me just as it is. I think it has kind of an ethereal look that is wonderful.

The only thing I think I'd do differently is to try and put a bit of a dark edge vignette to make the rose stand out a bit. But that's just me.

Very well done.

Thanks Cliff.

I did try the vignette, so it is not just you. The vignette just did not seem to work, maybe it is just me.

I wonder if Mike will be able to capture a few good images of "broken rules"?

[GrahamS]

Andre', may I edit your image?