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I'm looking for honest feedback here. No need to be afraid of posting a compliment or a criticism.

I like abstract work, and I'm trying to create something colourful in that vein. This is a hand-held three second exposure, manipulated in PS with the application of the underpainting filter, plus a boost with the Vibrance slider in LR.

I am prepared to keep experimenting. Am I wasting my time? Or are there possibilities?

I'm just finding it a bit hard to be objective with this work. Thanks to anyone who takes the trouble to reply.

At the moment, it looks like a blurry photgraph. I think you need to take it further so that the image is splotches of colour rather than OOF Chrysanthenums which is what it looks to me at the moment. Also fill the frame with the flowers so the colour splotches cover the frame.

HTH

Trevor

Apart from what's already been said (with which I concur) it also seems a little dull - maybe a curves adjustment would help.

Yes - good feedback - thanks to you both

This isn't quite in accordance with my original concept, but occurred as part of the development from feedback. It's good fun playing, anyway!

These images will work best if you name them 'Dream sequence 1 & 2'
They do have a dreamlike quality.

I agree with the comments of Greg and Peter: this needs to be taken further out into the wilderness. Whereas often we may introduce micro-adjustments to fine tune something in our images, here you want to shift things around by the handful.

Left field is where you want this to go.

it looks like a blurry photgraph

The second image beguines to be more abstract, but it lacks dynamism or movement. Consider using one of the filters of your image editing software, and keep having fun.

Hey Trevor
For me, the first doesn't work as an abstract because...it's not. Each of us will have a different line drawn in the sand denoting where actual stops and abstract begins. For me he first image stays safely on the actual side, albeit with an interesting spin. The second, however, meets my expectations of this kind of art - encouraging questions, making me wnat to find substance and looking at alternative meaings behind the shot. Clearly I need more sleep but I think you get what I mean!!

Cheers,
Simon

Hi Simon
Great to hear from you! And it looks like you're living closer to the city now?

My original thought was that I wanted the image to be recognisable as flowers. Abstract isn't necessarily totally devoid of any recognition of the subject matter. As you correctly point out, it just depends where the line is drawn.

In any case, the critiques of the original were on the money - it needed more pop, and there was certainly room to push the envelope.

I'm having a bit of fun anyway, and I may come up with something more interesting one day.