Updated - Blowing bubbles

[Justin]

Diffuse glow applied - what do you think?

EDIT - updated after some feedback from Ree. To cool it down I applied the 'orton' effect (dupl picture, gaussian blur top layer, multiply layer blending)

[blacknstormy]

Justin - interesting ... but I keep getting drawn to the chopsticks in her hair - looks like she's been stabbed in the head, or is growing horns? If you could clone them out, would help a lot. Other than that, the image is just a little too hot - drop the glow setting back just a tad, and it would work better

Just my opinions

Rel

[gstark]

Rel,

She's just a horny blower.

Seriously, this is a bit too soft for my liking, Justin.

We go and spend thousands on getting the sharpest glass we can, and then we kill the images. Go figure.

[Geoff]

Justin - a bit too soft for my liking too buddy. I think if it wasn't so soft, this could look great converted to mono too!

[gstark]

Sepia, even.

[blacknstormy]

had a thought - would work this soft if she had wings - then would take on a dreamy fairy far-away kind of look ...... PS some butterfly or dragonfly wings on and see

[Justin]

Tough audience, butterfly wings, B&W, Sepia and sharpen it up, phew!!!

Here's another shot, more of a straight PP.

[Matt. K]

Justin
Stay with your gut instinct. The first image is beautiful. Chopsticks are a little distracting (as noted) but the image is loaded with mood. Good job!

[Justin]

thanks Matt

What i really do like is having an image to discuss that does generate a lot of different opinion, gives me ideas to try that I would not have thought of myself.

I learnt a lot from this discussion, especially from going through a lot of iterations in photoshop on this picture - the thoughts here led to my multiple exposure 'Orton' technique thread

[Glen]

Justin, like Matt my preference is much closer to the first. Has a very Norman Lindsay feel about it.