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Sony Forums Challenges | all galleries >> Challenge 87: Flower Power (hosted by Sonny Asehan) >> Challenge 87 Eligible > edit image
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13-FEB-2005 Helen Betts

3rd(tie)
Half & Half
by Helen Betts

Ankara, Turkey

Sony DSC-F717
0.77s f/4.5 at 9.7mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Helen Betts22-Feb-2005 23:56
Thank you, everyone, for all your kind comments -- I'm so pleased that you liked my effort! And glad that my workflow was useful as well. Helen
Guest 22-Feb-2005 16:43
Helen -- wow! this needs to be printed and put on the wall for everyone to enjoy. It's so simple, so sharp, so very pretty!
Katherine Stanback's Photos22-Feb-2005 02:41
I love the composition, and the bright red against the white background!
Helen Betts19-Feb-2005 10:09
I'm glad people found the workflow useful; it's a nifty way to achieve a uniform background for this type of shot. I should note that it was Mike Fitzgerald who taught it to me several years ago. I also forgot to mention that I had already resized the image when I did this; if you work on a full size image, you may need to increase the Contract and Feather levels from 1 to up to 4 or 5. Helen
Guest 19-Feb-2005 06:16
And now for my comment on your photo. First off, I love your composition. The red petals contrasted well with the white background. This is a very nicely done image!
Guest 19-Feb-2005 06:14
Aha! I found the workflow, Gaurav was talking about. Thanks for the the information, Helen. Part of making the challenge interesting is that it really is educational for me. Thanks again.
Guest 16-Feb-2005 17:54
thanks for the explanation Helen! ~gk
Sony Forums Challenges16-Feb-2005 03:59
Helen, I like the way you composed/cropped this...nice contrast of the colors against the white background. Good lighting and detail too. Eye-catching. MFC
Helen Betts15-Feb-2005 17:44
Gaurav, well, there aren't any flowers at all on the streets or in gardens at this time of year, but of course there are so-called florists, although IMO their selection in general is pitiful and their ability to arrange flowers even worse. My husband bought these for me the day before Valentine's Day as he knew I was desperate for flowers to photograph :-). To get the white background I shot these on a piece of white paper and enhanced the white in PSCS by changing the toolbox background color to white, then click in the image background with the magic wand tool (have to play around with the sensitivity to avoid eating into the flower), contract selection (1), feather selection (1), both under Select menu, then hit delete, and the background you have selected will be converted to the toolbox's white that you have chosen. Easy (usually, but not always). Helen
Guest 15-Feb-2005 14:54
hi Helen

Did i hear someone complaining about no flowers in Turkey??? hmmm :). I like the simplicty and color a lot. How do you get that pure white background? Do you shoot against a sheet of white paper or do it in PS?

thanks

gk
Guest 14-Feb-2005 16:17
Helen..real Nice!!!.. The Clean Clear Colour Comp&Crop make this a Beautious piece of Art...irish
Helen Betts14-Feb-2005 11:11
Thank you, everyone! I was unhappy with my other entry so stayed up until 4:30 a.m.(on a worknight) playing with this. What an obsession! Markjay, I was referring to "half" of the image being flower and half being blank space. And Rob, your comment is just like being in the office! (I'm glad you added your customary sound effect :-)) Helen
Guest 14-Feb-2005 09:09
Sorry Helen I forgot the GGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Guest 14-Feb-2005 09:07
Well my little minx I am impressed with your image especially the comp.
Guest 14-Feb-2005 07:16
A nice composition, Helen. Where's the other "Half" ? :-) Markjay
Netgarden 14-Feb-2005 05:43
Helen, beautiful image! I love the centers of flowers! Its the texture I think. Perfect pop there!
Canon DSLR Challenge14-Feb-2005 05:30
Excellent ! Crisp and sharp, with great contrast. The colors really pop ! John(ebones)
roberta14-Feb-2005 03:40
Stunnig Helen! Wonderful composition,
Guest 14-Feb-2005 03:31
Gorgeous, Helen - the color and detail are amazing! Bev
Stéphane Bouchard 14-Feb-2005 02:35
Impressive!
What a great source of joy in my winter blues...
-Stéphane