Yellow Tulip

I like to get a bit 'creative' with my images because it seems to be the best way to stop them becoming too run-of-the-mill. There are thousands of lovely flower pics 'out there' in photography space, but after you've seen so many of the same, it can be refreshing to see something a bit different sometimes.

Most cameras now have built in effects, but I never think to try them. I do have plug-ins of some post productive effects but I find I use very few of them, apart from one or two favourites; and I do like using borders/frames sometimes.

I'm not all that keen on the programmes that allow you to emulate particular oil paint/water colour styles. Maybe that's because I used to paint almost every day myself and I can't see the point .... but I've found there are tools in my PSP that I could make more use of to treat certain areas of a pic - especially flowers- to a bit of selective softening etc. I do like images that have a semblance of 'artistry' about them.

So - I decided to explore my Dodge, Burn and Smudge tools on this tulip flower image.

I also tried it out on the white rose too, which I shall probably post tomorrow.

Done