Only suggestion would be a flip.

5/1/2011 12:00:07 PM

I agree with Dale Debbie. For an unprocessed RAW image this looks great! Nice color and BG. I very seldom come up with a RAW that does not need, at the very least, some sharpening, but this one came out great right from the camera.

5/1/2011 12:29:17 PM

Gotta love that 5D Mk II!

Nice work Debbie!

5/1/2011 12:35:21 PM

Beautiful and it has a kind of Japanese feeling because of the color tones and comp. I'm not seeing Dale's flip.

5/1/2011 3:16:47 PM

It is beautiful and the tones really add to that. I do not see the flip either.

5/1/2011 5:36:43 PM

Here's Dale's flip. What do you all think? I like it either way.

5/1/2011 8:21:23 PM

Drum roll....Here it is. (time for bed but am up waiting for President Obama's speech about Bin Laden.

5/1/2011 8:23:16 PM

Drum roll....Here it is. (time for bed but am up waiting for President Obama's speech about Bin Laden.

5/1/2011 8:23:27 PM

5/1/2011 8:24:19 PM

I'm sticking with the original.

5/1/2011 8:28:34 PM

pretty awesome coming right from your camera, I love the tones I am with leslie I like the original.

5/1/2011 9:09:38 PM

Wonderful vision. Great framing -- I find that to be the most challenging part of managing the camera to capture my vision.

Did you post the JPG straight out of the camera or the RAW image converted to JPG on your desktop?

And I'm wondering how you do the flip "in camera"? I think you'd have to the camera upside down, wouldn't you?

5/1/2011 9:22:10 PM

I like the flip. In the other orientation my eye was drawn right away to that bright spot on the right. With the flip my eye enters at the bright spot and then naturally travels to the right to view the buds.

5/1/2011 9:38:04 PM

I like it unflipped and it's great for being straight from camera. It does have an elegant look and love the BG.
Stephen, I don't think one can flip it "In Camera" I think you have to do that in PS...am I right you PS gurus out there?

5/2/2011 1:21:43 AM

Stephen, Yes, I had to convert the RAW image to jpg first; just didn't make any corrections. And as far as I know there is no way to "flip"" in camera so of course I had to go into PS for that second image.

5/2/2011 4:57:09 AM

Beautiful Debbie...the colors are wonderful and it's amazing what great sharpness you got right out of camera. I'm in the camp of 'no flip'. I find the branch helps guide me thru the image to the beautiful bunch of blossoms. I do wish there was a better background...looks like a car to me, but it's actually not very noticable because of the DOF. :~)

5/2/2011 5:17:08 AM

Very nice Debbie, flipped or un- flipped.

5/2/2011 7:08:13 AM

i still like the original.

5/2/2011 11:10:46 AM

I am for the original too.

5/2/2011 11:46:25 AM

Beautiful . . . I love the colors and the bokeh. I kinda like the flip . . . but they're both great.

5/2/2011 1:16:04 PM

Think I'll keep the original just to be arbitrary and will be able to say that I didn't have to use PS on this one at all - which I couldn't say if I took Dale's advice and flipped in Photoshop. I trust this is a good enough reason, Dale???

5/2/2011 1:20:17 PM

LOL! Good a reason as any Debbie. I know when I've been out gunned but hey, can't be right all the time, right? And congratulations on proving Peter's idea about getting an unprocessed shot.

5/2/2011 2:29:05 PM

Just finished entering this one in the Monthly theme since it is "Just Natural". Can't get anymore natural than a basically unprocessed raw image. But I did want to clarify that the background is just the other crabapple branches behind and around it - no unnatural things like cars, Aimee!

6/26/2011 5:55:47 AM

Good choice for the challenge Debbie and I'm betting it will do well.

6/26/2011 10:27:40 AM

Here's hoping! I was kind of bummed out that my Finalist didn't go further but that's just life at BP. One never knows what will please the judges and I was pleased with it and I guess that is what really counts when all is said and done.

6/26/2011 10:35:16 AM

Congratulations again, Debbie!
~♥~

7/29/2011 5:25:14 AM

Congrats on your Phine Phinalist Debbie! :~)

7/29/2011 5:51:14 AM

Hi Debbie;
Congratulations. This is just lovely.
;) CC

7/29/2011 6:43:41 AM

Another winner. why am I not surprised? Congratulations.

7/29/2011 8:03:07 AM

Congratulations!!!

7/29/2011 9:12:54 AM

Congratulations on a beautifu finalist :)

7/29/2011 11:33:47 AM

Congrats on the win! Says a lot about your talent that this is straight out of the camera.

7/29/2011 1:22:16 PM

WTG Debbie... missed this one, but just love it. Congratulations!

7/29/2011 3:03:46 PM

congratulation on your win.

7/29/2011 3:21:46 PM

Double Kudos on your 2nd Place Win too!

7/29/2011 3:29:47 PM

Friends, Thank you all! This image surprised me. But being surprised is a good, NATURAL thing, right?

7/29/2011 3:33:48 PM

You're wrong, Debbie. It couldn't have been any better! Congratulations on a shot well done, and a Gold worth deserving.

7/29/2011 6:45:18 PM

Congratulations on this well deserved Gold Win Debbie!

jo ann c.

7/30/2011 7:47:06 AM

Thank you, Kathy and JoAnn. I appreciate your comments. Went through both of your galleries as I try do every so often. ( I have a bit more time now that I'm retired). Lots of inspiration when visiting great galleries!

7/30/2011 9:58:20 AM

Awesome job on the second place win Debbie! :~) Congrats!

7/30/2011 4:06:43 PM

Congratulations Debbie on your Win!!!

Dominick

7/31/2011 11:59:30 AM

CONGRATZ on this beautiful Gold Winner!!!

UB.

8/1/2011 6:46:26 AM

Goregous winner...congratulations!!

8/1/2011 9:22:42 AM

A winner with no edits - no need to spend money on PS. Congratulations Debbie a real tribute to your camera work!

8/3/2011 10:06:30 AM

Thank you, Michael. You know, it is often hit and miss with the camera but this time it was good. I think I will leave it alone and not take it into PS. I just loved your landscape this month. I thought that both of us would go further with our Finalist - but then who can ever know??? I would have definitely picked my N&L over my MT.

Thank you, Usman, Dominick and Linda. You all have been my inspiration for a long time. Such beautiful work you all create.

8/3/2011 1:32:17 PM

Good one Deb! Could not have been better...congratulations to you!

8/9/2011 11:09:16 AM

Imagine it. Feel it. Receive it. Congratulations, your entry was very special and thanks for sharing it with all of us. Merna Nobile

8/9/2011 9:16:20 PM

congratulation its a beautiful image

8/10/2011 12:40:59 PM

Thank you so much, Lydia, Merna and Rita. It is a favorite of mine because it took no effort on my part after taking the shot. That is usual for me because I love to take images into PS and "change" them. There comes that rare occasion when that isn't necessary and that my friends, is a joy!

8/10/2011 1:10:45 PM