Yes, I feel it need a little more contrast too, you might try burning in the top to add to the depth. :0 )

Your right about his dont mess with me look, my first feeling was where are the crowd. :0 )

Red white and blue, a no fail colour combination, nice image and in colour from your recent posts I thought you were on a b&w trip jack and the price? LOL. :0 )

TA jack for posting your pictures, Its really interesting to see. I have been toying with trying this, we have a local art week but Im never sure what sort of picture will sell, when you say matting do you mean mounted on card? And the pricing stroll on, just how many times do we double it. LOL :0 )

Cheers Doca, you have seen it just as I intended, I know there are lots of ways to portray this but the water drops were every where and this shot allowed me to include them and the city in one. PC its always raining in London except when the sun shines LOL Thank you Michelle, do you think this would work in b&w? Im toying with converting it. If I remember there was a how to posted recently. :0 )

I guess it just goes to show you cant please everyone. Thank you all for your comments I wonder what the reaction to only posting the after would have been? Apart from the obvious adding of texture I wonder if you would have picked up on the changes? Michelle, I did try your suggestion on the texture in the sky but I liked the textured sky better. Some days selecting the finished image is as hard as making a hand print, I could never decide on the paper type or grade and asking for advice always left me more confused some days I felt this was the hardest thing about making a print. I guess the final image must be the one you personally like, but its always good to get other peoples point of view. Thank you. :0 )

Sorry Rocserum the "before" is the original, it's taken with my 19mm lens which does some pretty wacky things, I want to try some candids with it but you have to get so close. Working on the grain now Michelle, Im never sure how far to push poster edges. :0 )

Thanks M ura* :0 )

Super! News Jack, should we start collecting Jacoggins now? Love to know what prints you sold. :0 )

Nice Duck picture Cam, Make an entry for next months theme too, looks like low light to me LOL :0 )

Tremendous, My kids want the second one, I cant understand it they never want to go around with me but theyd have no problem being seen in this. Shaking head will I ever understand um. LOL :0 )

Full marks Enax some nice photography, Not sure about the cats but I guess we all have to laps now and again LOL Please can we have a link to last months challenge images or please tell me where I can find um, There was some great pictures and I would love to take anther look. :0 )

Sorry prankpower I didnt comment on your pictures flak jacket on. LOL #1 you know what lets this down its too dark, I like the back lit tree between the two silhouetted trunks but it still need something else. Have you tried fill in flash? It might help put the detail in to the forest floor. #2 I think the light caught your eye and you just had to take the shot I feel there is just too much dead space in the frame. #3 Now this I like the out of focus background is great not distracting, the only thing that lets it down is your DOF, The flower head is just dropping out of focus. Im sure you know but its 1/3rd in focus behind your point of focus and 2/3rds in front, worth thinking about when using long or macro lenses and picking your point of focus. #4 Ive got to agree with M, you need to get closer as you say thats impossible at the MO. I do like the reads, with a long lens they would make a nice pattern picture. :0 )

Fantastic! Nice to see some real Critique creeping in, what better way to learn and improve, then to get someone elses take on your work, full marks Michelle. I have often asked for a critique wanted icon to post with work, so we dont piss ppl off that just want to share their work. Perhaps the photo forum could lead the way? Asking for critique is fine but all you get is answers to the things you already feel need improvement not someone elses unprompted take on your pictures. Lets have more of it. Please. :0 )

Looks like a nice project I have done a couple of these, Just thinking of some tips that might help Scan at the largest resolution you can get, the more digital data you have the better for repairing the damage. I dont know how big it is, but think of the final size you want and make sure your scan gives you enough dpi to get 300 dpi at your final size. about 22mb for a 10x8 print I have struggled with this and made a small print copied onto print film then printed my final images in the DR, this worked well and then you have neg and real pictures. LOL I guess your be cloning, I like to use the all layers option and have a blank top layer to clone into you can then correct any mistakes before you merge. One final obvious thing try and keep its charm the soft focus and colouring are not age just qualities of the original picture. Hope this helps :0 )