About the Image(s)

Sony A7 IV, 70-200 macro lens at 192mm, ISO 400, f6.3, 1/25 sec., handheld, indoors, natural window light.

This is a rose from a collection of dried roses and twigs I keep for photography purposes when the mood strikes me to use them. It is sitting in a vase on a shelf and I liked the way it was naturally lit so I didn't want to move it. I had to handhold my camera to be able to get this shot and I felt that worked fine.

I wanted to give it a bit of a dramatic and/or spooky feel since I took this the day before Halloween. I processed as follows:

In Lightroom Classic I cropped, then did basic edits to exposure, texture, and contrast. I masked and darkened the background.

In Topaz Studio 2 I applied an impressionist painterly filter and manipulated opacity and other various controls within the filter until I got the look I liked.

Next, I went into Luminar Neo and added a "mystical" filter which I adjusted to my liking. Then in PS I added a stroke around the edges.

I was torn about whether there should be twigs on the right side of the rose or if what is currently pictured looks fine. All feedback appreciated!