Incoming (w/ original)

You chose great images to enhance and just the correct amount of artistic license to bring them new life.  This is a great example. 

Pretty cool, Sandy

Sandy: A pretty nice piece of raw material to begin with and then fashioned to perfection. Beautiful shot.>=))>

Pretty cool effect, Sandy.  I'd be curious to see the original, as it looks like a fine image.

Bill, sure, here is the original.  I forget if I posted this in Avian awhile ago.

Patricia is correct that one has to start with a pretty good image to then render it successfully in Photo Art. Many filters are quite  unforgiving.
What I find ideal, and I have posted a number of them, is white egrets,  herons, storks, etc against a plain , light sky. Check back thru my Gallery here on NPN if you're curious about them.

Occasionally, an un-ideal portrait works when using "oil painting" filters and others that don't have such fine detail.

Then, of course, there is always some final touch-up to do.
Sandy

This is a really effective art shot.  It has an oriental look to it.  Nicely done.

Sandy, this is a wonderful example of interpreting a beautiful image of nature by simplifying it -- concentrating on the essentials that make it remain in your memory as a beautiful sight.  Some attempts to "artify" photographs are distortions of reality that produce interesting results, but have little to do with our perception of reality.  I was not there when you made this exposure, but I am guessing that your impression of the moment has a lot to do with how you processed this.  If I am correct, I would call this a clarification of a memory rather than a distortion.  Beauty simplified.

Wayne, thank you for putting into words just about what I feel. When I see a potential image, in addition to what I see in front of me, I envision what it could become if simplified and all the "distractions" removed.  With Photo Art, I try to re-create that impression and simplicity. I think birds are the most graceful things God created, and they, especially,  really inspire me to share my vision.

I take images of a lot of different things, and look for the potential Photo Art rendering in all of them. You can remove messy BG's, and leave only the objects of interest, then gently bring out the spirit. 

I recognize that Photo Art is not mainstream, but I do wish people here would be a little more interested in seeing the magical images that have been created. Patricia's gorgeous flower (WP win) a couple weeks ago is an exquisite, stunning example. It's like freeing the inner beauty that is there if only people can be more open-minded.

Sandy
 

Congratulations, Sandy!  A very creative result.  I almost never think of messing with these types of photoart applications, but now you've got me thinking.....

Congratulations, Sandy!  A very creative result.  I almost never think of messing with these types of photoart applications, but now you've got me thinking.....

Wow.  Both images are great.  They each serve a purpose.  You mentioned that "Photo Art is not mainstream", however there is a niche for such beautiful "Art".

Very well done, Sandy.
As said you stsrted from a very nice shot and you made a very good job.

Congrats
D&L

Congratulations on the WP.  Well deserved.

This is a beautiful artistic image, Sandy!  I love the original, too.  Congratulations on the WP!

Sandy: congratulations of the WP! This is a fine example of the KISS principle. Richard

Impressed ! And proud being next to you in the WP Gallery . Cheers, Hans

Congratulations, Sandy.

Sandy, what a wonderful image and wonderful choice of filters.  Just that bit of color is awesome.