This is my first serious attempt at drawing out the beauty of a photograph (meaning non-tutorial related, non practice, my intent was to get to the beauty). I prefer simple subjects and found this in one of my myriad of folders, it had been sent to my mother in law as she loved nature and flowers. The original was very washed out and light, as well, there was an arm in the lower left hand side holding on to the major lily. I could see the colors in my head, bold and bright so brought it into gimp and used many layer masks to isolate parts, dodge and burned the fore lily's before running photocomix's heavy screen on them. Then I isolated the background did a dodge and burn to a lesser degree and another of his color filters..vivid I believe it was before doing a soft glaussian blur.
Some tweaks here and there and this is what I ended up with, and...I'm pretty pleased with it. I was trying to make it seem as if the lily's were coming out of the background, very pronounced, accentuating the waterdrops.


lily by Jorden, on Flickr

Great job Jorden! Looks like you're having quite a bit of fun with GIMP.

Yeah I am...it's great...I always have but now it's a whole new level. So much for the quiet lurker as I've been here for months...I appreciate everyone listening and looking at my excitement and pics. Advice and direction always appreciated!

the flower petals look very succulent and rich, just like in real life.

I am glad, the photograph was so washed out there was no life to it. I was hoping I had been able to bring some back.

you have definitely succeeded in taking a photograph and making it into a work of art