Thanks for the comments folks... The selective focus in the first 2 are just a personal preference. If there is more than one of the same thing in the image I like to place focus on one and let the rest go, to me it keeps the eye on one section. The bottom lily is perfectly sharp, the downsizing and yellow on yellow make it appear soft.
Appreciate it.
Brian
I see your intentions with the selective focus, but it does not work for me:
* On the first picture, the composition leads my eyes from the top flower (a good entry) towards the one at the bottom (a bad exit). I would have tried another composition, to lead the viewer's eye from the out-of-focus zone towards the on-focus part.
* On the second one, I first look to the top flower (which is out of focus, thus a disappointing moment); then I search around the picture looking for something else to look at (an unpleasant journey), and finally come upon the second flower. There are just two flowers here, almost on the same plane; I would have kept both of them focused.
Just my two cents, hope this helps.