Thought I had something that looked kind of cool here, until I went back and looked at the original. Seems to me that while it's kind of interesting, I don't see how it's any improvement at all over the original (below). So now I'm thinking I should have left it alone, which got me to thinking even more (BIG mistake). Does an alteration have to separate itself so far from the original, or am I trying to make rules in a land with few rules? Just thought I'd see if there are any opinions here on this.

Original. BTW, the latest lilies from my garden.

Gorgeous lilies!! you certainly have 2 green thumbs!! i like what you did,outlining the plant.to me it stands away more from the lanceolated foliage. also, it defines the buds,making my eye travel across the image rather than focusing on the plant (as gorgeous as it is)

I like the edge effect, it does draw attention to the buds & the way they seem to be bursting out from the centre of the plant. With the lighter background the whole picture seems more harmonious but the lilies still really stand out, I think it is better than the original.

Well, as tired as I am tonight I'm probably easily persuaded, but looking them both over again here I now tend to agree. After looking at the PS version, the lily edges of the original now look kind of soft. I also didn't notice the job it did to the buds. Oh well, thanks!

Saw the original in the Photo Gallery first, and thought "What a burst..!"... My personal opinion is that the original is the better one. For me, the only possible advantage of the manipulated one over the original is that the greens are brighter in the first. Yet, it may also be achieved in the original also while keeping the tones of the lillies. The original one has valuable natural tones and a very slight and suiting softness, and I humbly think that these are lost when you manipulate the image as such... :)

Personally i feel the original is quite strong, but maybe just in need of a little 'developing'. So, one little Lab curve, a wave of the wand and presto! Photoshop is both darkroom and canvas and of course a blending of the two. These days i find myself more into the development process, going for purity and emotion... but have definitely put in some years with filtering. I guess it all depends on what you are presenting your work as. Are you attempting to portray reality as seen by your eyes or are you interested in painting another picture entirely? For me the first post detracts from the beauty of the original, that being a really lovely digital capture still in need of a shove or two to get it to convey a little more emotion...

Life is so full of life. I love it when my pictures are able to portray life exactly as i remember it or even as exactly as i want to express it. Why limit yourself by rules? Infinite possiblities exist within our minds, yet so many of us still cling to the notion that expression should be contained! go figure. Anyway, hope this makes it all the more confusing...

Gorgeous lilies Marshall...I'm envious of all the color you have in your garden! My own personal opinion is leaning toward the original. I'm not as fond of the hard lines around the flowers in the manipulated version. Eartho's interpertation is also very nice, but then the brick wall and drain have become a distraction. In any case it's a beautiful picture no matter which version you like.

Good work man. In my opinion though, I would stick with the original. All are good, but the first PS one is too hard edge for this image, and Earthos, shifts to green, at least on my uncalibrated monitor. Taken alone all would be superb picts, but side by side, I like the original. Just my opinion.

IMO, yes and no. The images each have a different feel to it (for lack of a better word). The original is a keeper, but the postworked one is also a good version. I envy your garden, Marshall. Those lilies smell wonderful! (We have a bouquet of those in a vase in the dining room right now, the buds are just starting to blossom.) :-) (*

Well, now I'm more confused than ever, but that's OK because that means there's a debate going on inside. I guess I like elements of each one, including eartho's, which is why I keep changing my mind. I liked the background dark on the original so as to not distract from the flowers. I think I'll do a blend of both my versions and see what that looks like. Thanks for all the feedback!!