This one is for a very different reason. My very first posting was of the yellow daisy on the top. I liked my little daisy and was proud of it. UNTIL.....I was looking thru Auntietk's gallery, as I had seen she was voted the Photographer of the year. Bravo btw Autietk!! I have been struggling with Photoshop, well threatening it actually, because my husband is making me learn it old school. "Here is how you open it....now edit..." He's right, I will learn it best by experimenting with it, as we all know. Well, back to Auntietk. I saw in her gallery a post she did on 12/7/11 named Postwork Progression (for anyone else with this same problem PLEASE go look at that) and got a true AH HA moment on using the smudge tool to get the velvety smooth look of the flowers. I'm still learning how to use it but here is the difference I have gotten so far. My bottom image is after I have used the smudge tool. Its minor/subtle changes that got the imperfections and pollen out and looks much smoother....to me at least. There is an old saying out there. An inch is a cinch, a yard is hard. I had not played with the smudge too yet (I'm reading a book on how to use PS and had not gotten to it yet) but I feel an inch closer to being happy with my postwork now. Anyone else still learning Photoshop, go look at other peoples work to help find your AH HA's too!! I actually contacted Tara and she was so supportive and willing to talk to me. So here is my Hat Tip to an AWSOME photographer!! You have helped me with one more step to sanity in the photography world. Personally I love when people take the time to do posts where they actually explain how they got a cool result, its very helpful and gets my creative juices flowing. Thank you to everyone that takes that time!!