ok, i did this one today, too...my cam pointed upward toward the sky, the branch pointed downward toward the ground. does this work for challenge or do you think it's too lame? which one do you like best? here's the original cropped and with some postwork.

and here's another version....

and finally, the last version which i did by selecting split channel to CMYK. i like them all, but maybe #2 and #3 the best. what about you?

Number 3 does it for me. No. 2 looks blurred. Nice work.

up-down, high-low, near-far... I can see it... hard to decide... the first shows more of what it is but something about the 3rd I like, more mysterious, dreamy background :]

3 for me. The less distinct background highlights the subject matter more, and we can see alot more detail too! :) As for whether it fits the opposites subject matter, I feel that the contrast difference between fore and backgrounds is enough of an explaination for me.

Lame :-) Muahhh

Very beautiful all 3 of them...... especially love the colors in the middle one! As far as which seems to work for the challenge I would say the 3rd. Positive/negative. I don't quite "get" the feeling of opposites from those two without an explanation, where it's pretty obvious in the last.

yep...the last one....muuah!

The last one collaged beside a B&W normal one would seem a logical 'opposites' presentation. I must say i like the alien-probe-like stick in 1 because the colors seem clearer. Blur is a good option OFTEN I think, but not when the feature of sharpness and dwetail is key to an image (as in this one!). .... there!

3 is beautiful. I always like a dark bacground in just about everything. Aloha

Thanks so much for your feedback and advice guys!!!! I did blur #2 intentionally because i thought it was perhaps too sharp. I then softened the edges. In the end, i kept looking at #3 and agreed with ya'all...it's the best for conveying opposites. i also thought it showed a lot more depth. i just uploaded this one into my gallery with a frame. not sure it was a good choice for framing though. [Click Here!](http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=877299&Start=1&Sectionid=8&filter_genre_id=0&WhatsNew=Yes) and here's the thumb. THANK YOU guys sooooooo much for taking the time to give me your ideas, suggestions, and impressions!!!!!!! :)

good choice my dear... a golden star*... now you have a matching pair! :]

Yipppppppeeeeee!

Scrolling up and down and up and down and up and down-- allmost lame me 2 ;) well......nr. 2 or perhaps nr. 3.....hm...yes nr 3.....Oh, now I notised you allready decided...Im a litle bit dumb..LOL.... Puss & kram

Yep, you've chosen the best one for the gallery, me thinks! Really like it a lot!!! I also like #1 because of the up/down theme. #2 IMHO doesn't say so much... and I also don't like the background colour... but that's just me ;o) Hugz, Monika

3 stands out very much against the dark background. Excellent

#3 is verrry bright and beautiful! I should start playing with #3 combined with #1 or #2 or so. I need to get along with those layers and have some idea's in mind, but still not realized them.

Last one is less busy w/o all the cool colors, but I like the first one too...and the second one....but if I must pick I will say #3. I like the blurry/sharp contrast. Cool looking. -Peace :-)

Thanks so much guys for all your advice, suggestions, and comments!!!! I really do appreciate it!!!!

Oh, all were wonderful - however, I agree, that you picked the best of the lot to depict the challenge theme :) Will post asap