Gazebo in Springby
TooCoolComment: Ron, I am so glad you pointed out that you don't mind negative comments. I was soooooo biting my tongue during the challenge on this photo, but now I can let loose:
The reason is would have loved to comment at all, is because of the potential I saw in a photo that had gone wrong.
There are times where a soft focus effect works well, and this could be one of those times. However, the WAY you did it - didn't work. Perhaps a proper soft focus filter would have helped for that. At the very least, I think you should have left the trees soft, but brought some sharpness back into gazebo.
It just doesn't look right, the purple fringing around the sky is very distracting, and the rest of it just looks somewhat off focus rather than soft.
It is not the most exciting scene out (but I still think it is pretty) and the lighting is dreadfully dull. Very early morning or late afternoon light would have made that part more interesting.
How about adding a point of interest to look at - perhaps a large windchime of some natural type design that would fit into the scene - strategically placing it so it catches the sun with a little sparkle.
(oh and make a fairy flutter around while you're at it *g*).
I think you found a very pretty spot and you were trying to do the right thing with it. I hope you can go back to that same place and try again.
Photographer found comment helpful.
