Lotus Bud + redo

Barbara: Not sure if the brown is a blemish or imperfection but I really don't think it matters. This is about the light and in that regard this is very good. There are enough lit stems in the BG that I think they are a net plus. My only suggestion regards presentation. I would change the site frame to anything lighter than black as the left edge of the image blends in to the frame on the 720 page. There is adequate separation on the larger version. Well seen and captured.>=))> 

Hi Barbara, I agree with Bill that the slight blemish doesn't really matter (or detract) from the image (and about border). The dark background with a few hints of faintly lit stems is certainly a good way to show off the wonderful light on the main subject - Exposure is spot on!  I don't know if you had the chance at the scene (or whether you did anyway) but such a subject is a real opportunity to play with placement of subject and the isolated oof background supporting cast - When I find such a scene and I think I 'have the shot in the camera' then I stop and deliberately look for a very different placement of the subject in the viewfinder ...  

Lovely, Barbara.  I really like the simple composition and the light on the subject.  Did you play with burning down the brighter areas on the bg reeds?

Thank you, Bill and Mark and Dennis.  I don't remember if the site frames were here before, but I will be more careful about which one to select.  Mark, I don't look for a different placement anywhere near often enough.  I usually just think I have the shot in the camera.  Keeping that in mind will help me a lot.  Dennis, I didn't do anything with the top of the reeds in the background until now.  If you see this, what do you think?  I had Midtones, 30% exposure and airbrush style enabled.

Great light, Barbara. I don't think the blemishes are a real concern. I agree with Bill about the border. Quite often, I pick a color corresponding to some color in the image, separating it from the image by a 2 pixel white stripe.