Flower Diptych

[Didache]

Thanks guys for looking .. I went scuttling back to the original which is sharp. I think it might be a sort of optical illusion, due to the colour and the relative lack of contrast. Still, I agree that the version posted here does "look" soft.

Cheers
Mike

[freedom1500]

Mike,
Lovely composition, cropping and great color.
I get the impression you placed them together as a set (thus "diptych"). If that's the case, in my humble opinion, I don't think they work well as a set because the colours clash. However, the layout and composition of the two flowers together, work very well. A little too symmetrical, but it still works (perhaps one flower could be bigger than the other).
Regarding focus, I too think it's the colours that create the illusion of softness. Suggestion: (in your image editing software) try saturating the centre of the flower or adding a little more yellow, then sharpnen just the centre. The contrast and sharpness should really add sparkle. (I use this technique in portraits... soften the skin but sharpen the eyes)
Hope this helps.
Great job.
Robert

[Didache]

Robert .. thanks - I will certainly experiment along the lines you suggest.

I know the colours clash a little - actually it was the same piece of background paper, but I couldn't be bothered to correct the balance

However, here is a better one, I think .. a triptych this time .. this is one I posted some time ago.

Cheers
Mike