This week, Ann-Christine delights us with her beautiful images of soft snow, soft clouds, soft flower petals, and of course, her dog Totti with his soft fur.
I’ll start my collection with a sunrise at my favorite beach nearby. I love the soft colors in the sky and the soft light.
This week I also experimented with different filter effects in the Nik Collection and Topaz Studio. Does one filter make the fronds look softer than the other? The image on the left uses the Nik filter; the one on the right has the Topaz Studio.
Here’s one more experiment with Photoshop and Topaz Studio. Which cluster of anemones looks softer to you? The one on the left was edited in Photoshop; I applied a Topaz Studio filter to the one on the right.
In closing, I want to thank you all for inspiring us! I was delighted by your contributions to the Alphabet Challenge last week. We “collected” images of dozens of subjects that start with the letter S–everything from shrimp, sushi, and snow globes, to seals, steeples, and sunrises. We traveled to the Sonoran Desert, Sydney, and the Shenandoah River, and we even saw statues in North Korea. Your posts were a delight. Your creativity and imagination put many smiles on all our faces.
Next week, March 6, Amy will be hosting Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #138, and as promised, we are revealing her theme in advance. It is Natural Light. Be sure to visit her site. We hope you can join us. Until then, have a wonderful creative week and please stay safe.
Categories: LENS-ARTISTS, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Photography
P.A. Moed 
Beautiful images Patti . Those flowers are so gorgeous.
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Hi, Anita. Thank you!!! Much appreciated😀. Mother Nature is wonderful, isn’t she?
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Agree..Mother Nature is wonderful.
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Lovely post Patti – enjoyed the comparisons of the different filters. For me, the left side Nik fronds and the right side Topaz are the preferred interpretations. Also like that you used the slider. Very effective. Of course your sky is gorgeous!
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Hi, Tina. True confessions….those are my favorites, too! I’m glad you agree.😀. That sky was gorgeous! We’re going again tomorrow evening, for what we hope, is a great sunset. We’ll see. I hope all’s well.
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That compare tool is perfect for this application. I concur with Tina, my preferences are on the left for the fronds, and the right for the anemonies. Unfortunately, the reader just puts one on top of the other. WordPress needs to fix their reader to support their new blogging tools. >grin<
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You’re right, John! I’ve seen that stacking too on the phone. I didn’t realize it was in the Reader, too. I also agree with you and Tina about the left for the fronds and the right for the flowers. Thanks for confirming it! I hope all’s well.
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I almost joined you last week with a Six Word Saturday, Patti, but time ran away with me and I couldn’t do the Lens Artists justice. Maybe this week. Love your soft grasses and flowers and I do have some of my own. 🙂 🙂 Have a good week!
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Hi, Jo. No worries. I’m imagining that wonderful greenery is sprouting all over your area. I hope you have plenty of time outside in the sun. I am longing for spring, but we have about 6 more weeks left of winter. Spring comes late here! Take care and enjoy the week.
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Very cool way of showing off different editing techniques. I liked both the crystal clear version as well a the soft versions Well done 😀
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Hi, Cee. Wonderful! I’m delighted you enjoyed them. The slider feature is fun. Thanks for your kind words!
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Hi Patti, I love how you use the slide to show the results of PS, Nik and Topaz. Beautiful post-process images. I also enjoy the filters they offer, sometimes, it can be more time-consumming than it looks. Very well done. 🙂
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Hi, Amy. Wonderful! I’m delighted you like them. You’re right–sometimes they are time-consuming. There are quite a few of the Topaz filters I’d never use, but others are useful for different effects. I’ll take a look at your post next. I hope all’s well with you. Plenty of heat, hot water, and electricity!
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I feel as if I’d just been for an eye exam, where my least favorite part is where they ask which view is clearer. I’ve learned how to best do that test and I feel confident to say here that the first comparison was softer on the left while the last was softer on the right. However, I have a caveat. While in the first set, I felt both shots looked real, in the second set, the one on the right just felt as if it were slightly out-of-focus rather than soft. 🙂 Just MHO.
janet
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Lovely post. I think the Nik filter in the first image and the Topaz in the second are softer; however my personal preference in both images are the harder versions. Just personal preference, both work.
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Great with comparisons shown perfectly clear with the slider. And it is left first and then right! Love your examples – I don’t have any of the two, Nik or Topaz. And the sky – is gorgeous!
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I love the Nik filter in the frond image Patti, it gives it a gentle and soft feel, and I’m curious to see what this filter could do with your second image (if you’re up for the challenge!) 💚
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Hi, Xenia. I love that idea. I’m always up for a challenge!! Thanks for the idea! I hope all’s well with you.
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Thank you Patti, all’s well here and I hope you and yours are safe and well too! 💖 xxx
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😀. Thanks, Xenia. We have some sick family members, but we’re hoping for the best. Take care, too.
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Wishing them a full recovery and good health Patti 💜🙏
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This is impressive. I would not even know how to use a slider ! I think the nik filter for the fronds and the Topaz for the anemone create the softest impressions,
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Hi, Anne. We all agree, then! Nik for the fronts and Topaz for the flowers! The slider option is surprisingly easy to use. I hope you try it, too. I hope all’s well. Enjoy the week.
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Hey Patti! Great minds think alike-my subjects were exactly like Ann-Christine’s, except I have a cat. I really like your use of filters, so I need to try that myself sometime.
Cheers!
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Hi, Rush. I hope you try them. They’re a lot of fun! Thanks for stopping by and commenting, too!
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Hi Patti, great images. Like most responses: NIK for the palm fronds and Topaz for the flowers. This was an interesting experiment. Thanks.
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So far, it’s unanimous then! Thanks for confirming it and sharing your insights! I hope all’s well.
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hi Patti
i liked the swiping to see the filter edits but that opening photo of the sunrise was beautiful
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Hi, Yvette. That sunrise was stunning. We’re hoping to go back there for a sunrise or sunset this week. Thanks for your thoughts, as always and have a good week.
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😊☀️
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I love the differences – definitely see more softness in one over the other
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Hi, Nora. Wonderful! My experiment worked, then! Thanks for your insights.
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Beautiful photos Patti. Love the fronds in particular. Excellent.
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Many thanks, John. Looking forward to your shots, too.
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Very interesting your experiments. I love the sky, it’s wonderful. 😘
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It’s gorgeous at the beach, Ana. It’s been so uplifting during the pandemic. We are fortunate! I hope all’s well with you, too.
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Enjoyed those demos of the filters, especially with the wonderful starter images
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Hi, IJ. Glad you enjoyed them. The sunrise was gorgeous. We’re going to go back for a sunrise or sunset soon–if the weather cooperates. I hope all’s well.
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Love the comparisons Patti 🙂 🙂
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Wonderful, Brian. It’s fun to experiment. I hope all’s well with you in Oz.
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All is going well thanks Patti. Hope your side of the world is doing well too 🙂 🙂
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Patti, these images are all gorgeous and make me smile. The fronds on the left and the flowers on the right look softer.
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Hi, Beth. Wonderful! I’m delighted they make you smile. It looks like it’s unanimous (the left and then the right)! Take care and be well.
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The images are gorgeous and explicit
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Hi, Monica. Thanks so much for your thoughts! I appreciate that.
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I like the the grass on the left. How did you do the before and after slider? I would love to know.
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Hi, Sherry. Are you using the new WP editor? Look under “blocks” and “media” and you’ll see the comparison feature. It’s easy to use. Glad you like it! Thanks for your thoughts, too. Much appreciated!
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Thanks. I will try it out.
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Such a nice collection of “softies”! And I love the Topaz Studio filter on the anemones, if soft is what you’re going for. How fun to be able to play around with nature and soften up any harsh lines. Can you do the same with my face???
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Hi, Rusha. Your comment made me laugh. Wouldn’t that be nice? I’d smooth out those rough spots so easily on my own face!! Glad you like the Topaz! It’s my favorite, too.
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Clever use of the slider effect. For me, the left side Nik fronds and the right side Topaz are the best and the softest interpretations. At ten minutes past midnight my idea of soft is my lovely bed and duck down duvet! But I will have a think and see if I can come up with something.
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Hi, Jude. I agree. Soft at midnight is definitely a bed and a duvet! I should have posted a photo of that! Thanks for your thoughts on the images, too. I always appreciate your feedback!
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Those fronds at sunset are gorgeous, Patti!
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Thanks, Siobhan! I am delighted that you like them.😀
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Fronds? Left. Anenomes? Right. But all these images deliver for the subject – what a delight!.
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Hi, Margaret. Well, that’s the winning consensus. Fronds, left. Anemomes, right. Thanks so much for your kind words, too.
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hi patti wonderful pictures that you have show us this week.
many greetings robert
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Hi, Robert. Thank you! I’m delighted that you like them. I hope all’s well.
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Fantastic use of filters to soften the images — fronds – Nik, anemones – topaz. The sunrise is truly stunning 😃
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Thank you, thank you! I really appreciate your feedback, Jez. Much appreciated. The votes are in for the fronds and anemones! It’s unanimous!
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Love the sunrise image at Wallis Sands Beach plus the reflection in the water. So much soft color! I prefer the Nik filter (left) on the fronds and Topaz filter (right) of the anemones.
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Hi, Sylvia. Thanks for your votes! Everyone agrees, then! That sunrise was gorgeous. What a wonderful start to the day. Many thanks for your kind words.
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I like the effect that you get with the filters, Patti. On that last image, I prefer the one of the right, for this purpose. It has a much softer feel to it. And the colors of the sky reflected in the sea are beautiful!
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Hi, Sue. Great. I appreciate your feedback. I agree with you on the filter for the anemones. And thanks for your kind words about the sunrise. It was glorious! I hope all’s well with you.
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