Light and Dark issues

[SpiderBob]

Andre, You are commenting on #2, I see on the histogram you are quite below what I even did on 3 and 4. In fact your edit is just off of #1. Interesting to say the least. Yes, I see what you are saying and while I do like the sky and the dark flower in your edit, the white part of the flower and the branches and/or stems seem to be on the darker side now. I do like where the sun hits it seems very subtle, perhaps this is my computer. I should recalibrate it. It seems that everyone that has commented is all over the place on this one. But...this is why I started this thread, as light and dark always brings up issues with photography when mixed together with color.
Thank you Andre. You gave me something to think further on now

[AB26]

Thank you Andre. You gave me something to think further on now

Bob,

I believe cameras can get it pretty close to whatever you want in an image. Doing as little as possible in post is what I am aiming for.
It is a personal choice whatever you want in an image. To me PP is only needed whenever your camera cannot handle the dynamic range in the image. Enhancing the image to get a finer balance between darkest and lightest areas is what I will mostly do. Altering the image in PP to try and “fix” it is not an option for me as my PP skills are very limited.

It is my personal opinion that not every image HAS to go trough editing. If I can get away with only sharpening I am happiest. For others it is different, some want to add their own effects in PP.

No matter what others may say, most important is that you should be happy with the result you want. If you need to blow out the sky to nail exposure on your subject, so what! If you wish to nail exposure with every shot you need to learn how to use flash, or other artificial light sources, creatively.

Although comments may be all over the place, you learn from each and every comment.

[SpiderBob]

Bob,

Although comments may be all over the place, you learn from each and every comment.

Andre, exactly, and that is why I appreciate every comment given so much. When it comes down to it, yes it is taste, but I try not to let my individual taste rule me (for the lack of a better word). I want to be able to take a picture that will appeal to others, and that is why I need input, and all of you do just that and I thank you all. How I use that input is up to me, and that is defining my taste.