So I spent some time redoing these images and a few new ones. I am much happier with them. Love to know what you think.

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these are great, but i didnt see anything wrong with the first set - ?

you have some beautiful stuff on your website too!

these are great but the first set was nice as well.

thanks tami...i just looked at your site. i love, love, love your un-deFINED art. you are so creative. truly beautiful work.

the images i first posted were super processed and glowey...i have gotten rid of the glow and tried for a crisper image with nice contrast. i have learned sooo much from all of you here on OSP. looking at everyones sites and all the great advice is so amazingly helpful. '-)

thank you jessica i appreciate that. i look at all these beautiful pix all over OSP and it makes me excited about getting better and making beautiful images. i still get nervous when i shoot sometimes and i think that really affects my creativity and technical abilities. the comments and encouragement help me so much. ;-)

That first image was one of my favorites from your last post, and now that you've brought down the glow effect, I like it even more. I think these look great ...

... except for the last one. I'm not a big fan of these textures being used without discretion, and I especially don't like it on that particular image. To me, the nature of that shot just doesn't go with a texture treatment, especially as extreme as the one (or combination) you used.

Of course, so much in photography and art is subjective, and a matter of personal taste and style. You got to follow your own heart while using your head. And it's fun to experiment all along the journey.

thank you...your comments in my first post, along with a few others they made me really look at my processing and helped me to see that it was too much. i am much happier now with their look. of course art and processing and style is subjective...that's what makes it fun. can you elaborate a bit on what you mean about texture being used without direction?

i have seen you on so many post and you always have such great comments/advice and encouragement even if something isn't to your taste. in my opinion anyway.

here are a couple images that i used texture on...i would love to hear what you think about it here.

Hi, Govinda. I actually like the texturing of these two new images, especially the second one. It's an image that, for my tastes, is enhanced by the effect ... creates a certain mood and emotional response that might not be there without it. But as we know, this is all so very personal. It really matters more what you like.

My comment was about using textures without "discretion" (not "direction")

All I mean is that when certain imaging trends or styles are being widely used, some photographers use them without considering the artistic merit or impact of the image without the enhancement. We saw this with the digital selective coloring technique that was so very popular for a number of years. Many images looked fine with it, others just looked ... weird!

But I'm NOT implying that your image looks weird. I just think it would be just fine without it. The texture effect adds a certain old-time, nostalgic feel to an image, and that one looks too "today" for it to work. Hope I'm making sense. If not, it really doesn't matter.

that does help...thanks. i totally see what you mean. yeah, i really like the texture on these 2 as well. these were the first images i ever applied texture to and i love them. i have tried to use texture on several images and it's never quite worked as well as on these. i have seen some people's texture work and WOW!!! on the engagement pic above with texture i was trying for an edgier kinda rock star effect. i'll keep trying. thanks for your opinion...that's why i'm here.

Loving the processing on this bunch way better, but like everyone has said, there wasn't a whole lot to nit-pick about on the first set. I really like #5 a bunch!!!

Thank you Kate. I know they don't look all that different but I feel better about them and the bride actually hired me because of my photoshopping skills. She liked what she saw on my website and wanted me right away. I am still so new in wedding photography I second guess my choices sometimes. This bride knows photoshop...and very well from what I have heard. Also she and her fiance are so very nice and it's going to be a fun wedding. They both want really creative fun pix and I think they will be ordering an album (my 1st by the way). So I want to hone my skills before their wedding.

Thanx for you comments ;-)