Today is Remembrance Day or Veterans Day and the poppy is a symbol for both. I took a photo of some poppies growing in a field in Fundy National Park a few years ago and I decided to re-edit one of them for today.
ISO 200 135mm 0ev f/5.6 1/400
In order to get the original shot, which I will put at the bottom of this post, I did have to set the shutter speed fairly high because it was windy that day and I did not have a tripod with me. It still turned out to be a pretty bright image. In the version that you see above I have combined a few filters in Photoshop and I ended up liking this particular combination.
First under Filter I chose -Filter Gallery and then -Colored Pencil. I chose a fairly thick stroke and a medium-light canvas. From there I chose Filter again and then -Other -High Pass then I changed my blending mode to saturation. It was the last step that dropped almost all of the color out of the image in a way that I liked.
Here is the original image:
ISO 200 135mm 0ev f/5.6 1/400
Quite different isn’t it? Do you have a preference?
Sad that this poppy is connected with thoughts of so many who have died. It is a beautiful flower. This post was written in part in response to this week’s travel theme, connections.
Peace to all of you.
Cheers!
Photography Journal Blog 
I just love the top one, your edits made it really unique. Lovely! 🙂 x
LikeLike
Thanks so much 🙂
LikeLike
When I think of poppies, I also think of Claude Monet’s paintings and “The Wizard of Oz.” I had some in my garden when we lived in Central New York. By now, you know which way I’d vote. I opt for the full-on, in-your-face red poppies. Beautiful photos.
LikeLike
Thanks, I do like that original. I think I like it because it reminds me of that trip and that field both of which were lovely. It was the first time I had actually seen that many poppies growing before I had always seen them represented in art. Seeing them like that in person made me understand why I had seen them pop up in other places 🙂
LikeLike
I like the more colorful natural looking one as a photograph but as a work of art the top one is very interesting.
LikeLike
They are very different aren’t they. Thanks for commenting 🙂
LikeLike
Both are awesome, but I’m drawn to the one that is edited. It’s a great look, really well done. Two of my three flowers would not have been in focus, but I am getting a better understanding of shutter speed. We have had an unusual amount of very gusty days. I’m almost glad because it’s forced me to learn how to adjust to different weather situations. Great post, I appreciate the conversation.
LikeLike
Thank you, I wasn’t actually sure what my final edited version was going to look like, but when I saw that one I thought, there it is 🙂 There is nothing like bad shooting conditions to force you to learn how to use your camera, you either adjust or put the camera away really. For these flowers, it was pretty easy to get all three in focus because they were all the same distance away from the camera. Thanks for reminding me of that. I actually had shot some other poppies and was having that problem. I did want them all in focus, so I had to look around for three that actually were together like that so I would get the photo I wanted. I feel like I’ve written you a letter here, but thanks for commenting 🙂
LikeLike
I have to say that I rather like the “sad” colours on your edited version. Nice post 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, I do think it goes with the somber mood of the day. It is interesting because they are such lively flowers.
LikeLike
Your poppies hint at past times and remembrance very well PJB .
So tricky to capture those fragile petals so well !
LikeLike
Thanks 🙂 It did take a while to get the photo that I wanted, it was so windy and poppies have such thin stems that they really do blow around.
LikeLike
I love the editing….lends itself to looking like fine art.
LikeLike
Thank you so much!
LikeLike
Amazing and Thank you so much
LikeLike
Thank you for your visit.
LikeLike
Red is such a challenge for me to photograph. I like the original best.
LikeLike
I agree, red is a difficult color to capture. Thanks for your visit and the feedback.
LikeLike