Calopogon Orchid revised

[Bob_B]

More experiments...

This time a photo of Calopogon tuberosus flowers. This is an orchid native to the wet areas of Maryland and adjacent states, and commonly known as Tuberous Grass Pink. Yes, this one has white flowers, and that's fairly common for this species. These plants happen to hitchhike in a pot of pitcher plants I bought from a grower several years ago, and are doing quite well in my artificial bog. The flowers do not last more than a few days, so I thought I'd better get some photographed while they were still decent looking.

The flowers were photographed in diffuse natural light against a white background, and processed in LR and PS using several texture overlays for background.

Your thoughts and comments are appreciated. Best regards, Bob

[David Eckels]

Now these overlays are quite effective in my view. My only suggestion would be to highlight/lighten the orchid more.

[Bob_B]

Thanks David. I think I will be able to improve that with more work on the background texture.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Now these overlays are quite effective in my view. My only suggestion would be to highlight/lighten the orchid more.

I'm with David on this.
This has great potential, and I look forward to further variants.

[Bob_B]

Thanks Eric. Experiments continue...

[Bob_B]

Same image, major mask editing and color changes reflecting David's and Eric's comments.

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Now that is quite lovely!
You can stop with that one, IMHO.

[Bob_B]

Thanks Eric.

[Paulo Bizarro]

The second version is very nice.

[Bob_B]

Thanks.

[David Eckels]

All I can say is, Wow!

[francois]

Ethereal, the second version is definitely an improvement.
Well done!

[Bob_B]

Thank you David and francois.

[BAB]

Your second version is a nice panel
I still would like to see a more blended pink to purple background (salmon to lavender color) without the blotchiness. Also the green leaf directly behind the bloom is very distracting to the eye, I might try removing it totally?