Happy Mother's Day

It is Mother's Day weekend, and I want to wish all the women a very Happy Mother's Day. Regardless of whether you are technically a mom or not, all women have the "mother gene." We seem to be programmed to nurture and to provide care.

So consider this flower image your corsage for the weekend. Enjoy family and friends, and pamper yourself.

And guys, you, too, have the nurture and protector gene. Your day is coming next month, but for now, celebrate with the women in your life!

This image was modified from the original capture using Lightroom and Photoshop. I wanted to create a light and airy feel, more like a pastel drawing rather than a literal representation of the scene. Here is the original RAW image before any cropping or optimization was done.

Original RAW capture

It was optimized in Lightroom, and then using Layers in Photoshop, I lightened the background but kept the main flower darker so it would stand out.

The easiest way to do this in Photoshop is to create a new layer of the entire image, and then using Levels, lighten the new layer until it suits your taste. Then create a Layer Mask on the new layer, and use the Brush tool to remove the area of this layer covering the central flower. That allows the darker version of the main flower underneath to show through.

TECH SPECS
1/1250 sec. at f/3.5, ISO 200. Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS macro lens on Canon 7D Mark II body. Handheld.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and forgiving heart. Look for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them."  --Marvin J. Ashton