# Coneflower Fantasy **URL:** \ **Category:** Image Critiques\ **Tags:** editors-pick, plant-life\ **Created:** [May 20, 2019, 5:54pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coneflower-fantasy/6576 "2019-05-20T17:54:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kathy\_Snead](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/e68b1a/32.png) [@Kathy\_Snead](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Kathy_Snead)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 5:54pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coneflower-fantasy/6576/1 "2019-05-20T17:54:10Z")
The original photo was shot with a d800 and 300 mm at f5 , 1.320 sec, ISO 400, handheld. It was a good shot (if I say so) and very colorful but I never really felt hugely comfortable with it because the color seemed to dominate the form. The green lines are grasses and were very bright. A couple of months ago , I started tinkering. First I converted to black and white. Hmmm. Not happy there I painted some of the color back in , mainly on the flowers. The picture sat there awhile. Then I used a paintbrush in PS and started painting my own color on the other parts. It still didn’t look right. Then I started adding some of my overlays to give it more depth . Then I tinkered again in LR, making it darker, having a more compressed histogram. I think its there, although tomorrow I may decide I need to tinker more. Any comment is fair game. Interested to hear what this group thinks. ![Coneflower%20Dreams2-](https://images.naturephotographers.network/original/2X/9/9f0574cc2d95c3582175c22d78131e7612cfae4e.jpeg) ##### **_You may only download this image to demonstrate post-processing techniques._** ---
**Author:** ![Giuseppe\_Guadagno](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/giuseppe_guadagno/32/19438_2.png) [@Giuseppe\_Guadagno](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Giuseppe_Guadagno)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coneflower-fantasy/6576/2 "2019-05-20T20:17:32Z")
Kathy don’t touch the photo any more, I love it as it is. So delicate, soft, romantic don’t touch it. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Kennedy](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/steve_kennedy/32/55050_2.png) [@Steve\_Kennedy](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Steve_Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coneflower-fantasy/6576/3 "2019-05-20T20:29:17Z")
Hi Kathy! I agree with Gigi. It is beautiful as is! His word romantic is a good fit. The soft lighting gives it a delicate beauty. I wouldn’t change a thing! ---
**Author:** ![Dennis\_Plank](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/dennis_plank/32/27033_2.png) [@Dennis\_Plank](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Dennis_Plank)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 12:24am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coneflower-fantasy/6576/4 "2019-05-21T00:24:01Z")
I really like this, Kathy. I think you did a superb job on the colors and I agree with Gigi that it’s right where it wants to be. A beautiful image. ---
**Author:** ![Kathy\_Barnhart](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/d07c76/32.png) [@Kathy\_Barnhart](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Kathy_Barnhart)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 2:10am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coneflower-fantasy/6576/5 "2019-05-21T02:10:29Z")
Beautiful and dreamy as is! Tinkering does pay off and I often find it hard to determine when to stop. Very nicely done! ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Fach](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/bill_fach/32/78290_2.png) [@Bill\_Fach](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Bill_Fach)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 10:39pm UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coneflower-fantasy/6576/6 "2019-05-21T22:39:45Z")
Kathy: Just a superbly crafted image and a terrific result. Most excellent.\>=))\> ---
**Author:** ![Patricia\_Brundage](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@Patricia\_Brundage](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Patricia_Brundage)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2019, 11:47am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coneflower-fantasy/6576/7 "2019-05-24T11:47:53Z")
I’m in complete agreement with the others… keep it just as is. Lovely, soft feel with just enough in focus to keep the viewer’s attention. Love it! ---
**Author:** ![Phil\_Hodgkins](https://assets.naturephotographers.network/user_avatar/community.naturephotographers.network/phil_hodgkins/32/3580_2.png) [@Phil\_Hodgkins](https://community.naturephotographers.network/u/Phil_Hodgkins)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://community.naturephotographers.network/t/coneflower-fantasy/6576/8 "2019-05-28T01:56:55Z")
Kathy, please leave it alone! The image is done, and truly well done at that!