Approaching the flower with a dark background: how it might work?

[Cem_Usakligil]

Originally Posted by Asher Kelman

This is a really interesting flower. It's simple and elegant. It gently transforms from a clean stem with subtle markings to a white elengated bloom wrapped on itself. I felt it could be enhanced by using a series of brightened images and masking each layer to reveal more of the darker center.


I hope you like my version of your elegant flower!


Asher

I'll fix the left hand lower corner later!

Hi Asher,

I understand your intentions with the version you've done and I praise them. The execution of it, however, is less successful unfortunately. You might want to check the calibration of your monitor. In your version, the mid tone and highlight details are almost wiped out. The vein structure of the flower is much less visible. Local contrast (clarity) is greatly reduced. And finally, the blacks have become lighter with a lot of noise (although this is easily repairable by masking the black background and filling it solid black).

I hope you don't mind me pointing these problems out? :-)

Cheers,