Poppy Power 2 (+ repost)

Hmmm, hard to say which one I like best. I can see more detail in the edge of the petal in the previous one, but that may be partly due to the position in the frame. I usually don't comment anymore on matters of saturation because I think my wide-gamut monitor gives me a different view of colors than most people see, even though it's calibrated, and I am viewing it in Firefox. However, I wonder if your histogram shows the red channel jumping off the right side of the graph. That's a common problem (if you want to call it a problem) with intense reds like this. There are various ways of dealing with it if you are interested in recovering details in the intense red areas. However, that's a matter of taste, and if you are going for a high-impact abstract view like this, more power to the reds. (No old-fashioned political meaning intended. )

Oops -- almost forgot to answer the question. As I said, it's a tough call, but since I am more of a documentary guy, I like this one because it shows more details in the flower, at the bottom even though the top edge of the petal fades into the "no details" zone at the top.

Thanks for the suggestion, Wayne. Much appreciated. Here is a repost with reduced red.

I like your first post best, largely because of the added interest that the second dark area provides. In this version, I think the soft edge of the petals and the green URC are distractions.

I think I would have to say I prefer this version, Scott. I feel that it's somehow more satisfying compositionally and it gives a stronger sense of the form of the flower. The colours, by the way, I find exquisite in both.

I tend to agree with Mark re: the dark green in the URC being a little distracting but I still prefer this version to the first. What about a slight crop from the right to remove that green area?

Reducing the red really improved this a lot! I like this post much better than the other...I think the composition is better & I think seeing the brown spot from the outside only is more interesting. I don't find the green at all distracting, if anything it adds more interest & shape to the flower in my opinion!

this is the better one with all those oranges in the bg, like it a lot.

Scott - I like the previous one and this one equally. In this I might like a version with colors somewhere in between but the first even though a bit saturated (and may have the red channel blown), still packs a punch for me.

I sure like this one, Scott. The color on the orange poppies is really this intense, and I think you handled the color well. Like the selective focus, too. I think the repost is a little too reduced in color...

I prefer this version for its slightly pulled back comp, and it clearly puts the dark center as your focal point.
As before, I like the color combo and the added wash of orange along the bottom works nicely
Post script: IMO the initial post here was fine, and I prefer it..

Scott: I do prefer this one for the POF choice. The dark OOF center part on the first bugged me a little. On my monitor the colors look pretty good but I do see where Wayne is coming from and like the repost here as well. Very nice work.>=))>

Scott
I like this one better. For me, poppy mean intense color and all about color which come through loud and clear in this version.