Stringy Skin

[David Eckels]

Arizona juniper

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I could tell that it wasn't your hair. Wrong color.   

But I do like it.

[John R]

I like the design and the lines in the overall textures. Reminds me of horses manes. But I will say it does look noisy or sort of over-sharpened which takes away from the texture.

JR

[francois]

I like the lines and shapes… Very nice shot.

John has a point about noise but it might a desired effect…

[Bob_B]

I like it too. (How's it look in BW?)

[David Eckels]

Thanks for the feedback guys.
Eric, been a long time since there's been color in these weeds!
John, it was shot at ISO 1600 and the structure was pushed significantly in the shadows and mid-tones using SEP on a luminosity layer. No noise reduction in LR. Sharpening, not so much. I may rework it depending on the print.
Francois, I was going for a gritty effect but grain didn't seem to be the way to go. We'll see. I haven't printed it yet.
Bob, your wish below. I pushed the contrast and highlight sliders a little on a LR virtual copy.

[David Eckels]

Just printed the color version on Canon Matte and Platinum. The matte version looked great to my eyes when it came out first, but the grain in the Platinum really popped, great depth. I think I will play with the edges and corners, which bother me a little. Of course, these were from the full size version, printed at 8x10, but I wonder if the down sampling for the jpeg(s) you saw might have exacerbated the sharpening even though I'd turned it off in the posted image.

[David Eckels]

Had another go at it. BW included

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

I think they are both better.
My pick now is the color version.

[francois]

Both versions are better but I'm undecided between the B&W and the color versions…

[David Eckels]

I printed the color version and it looks good. Haven't printed either BW.
Thanks for commenting Eric, Francois.