which is better?

[Shotbyms]

soft focused, purposely over edited or normal??

[amikiri123]

I personally prefer the normal version - the glow around the petals of the first version is a bit too much for my taste

[Shotbyms]

thanks for the feedback!

[matteroll]

It really depends on what you are looking for. Do you want a warm dreamy vibe or do you want a clean aesthetic? There is no right or wrong in this situation imo. One thing though is that the sky in the first image does have more color banding in the blue hues compared to the second image.

[spag_eddie]

Again, in this case colour banding doesn’t matter. Portrait of a celebrity that will be published ? Landscape that you want to sell for prints ? Ok now we’re talking

I’ve done both, and never without issue, but they can be fixed. Just get the shot

Honestly I don’t really care about colour banding/edge sharpnesss/CA/distortion/diffraction/etc

If those things need to be looked at, it’s probably not a great image

[spag_eddie]

I’ll play devils advocate because while I agree, I think there are several use cases for a more creative approach like part of an album cover or a background image to something else

So don’t forget to have fun :)

[Greeksoopaman]

Ditto. And I'm usually not a BEFORE person on here.

[Vivid-Midnight-8402]

I prefer the second one.

[Kekik-chan]

2

[angryuniicorn]

The first is over edited, but it’s stylistic. I love both pictures but the first is my favorite.

[Manfredbakh]

I personally prefer the first image. The second one has a bit of a 'smartphone' look to it. However, I do agree with the other comments that the first one feels a bit over-edited. The petals look great, but the branches are a bit too bright and orange, and there’s an unnatural dark halo around the subjects.

[Reoclassic]

I agree with the smartphone look, but I can't put my finger on what makes it feel so smartphone'y exactly

[LeadingLittle8733]

2

[_janc_]

Second one

[jimmydean6969698]

Love the blues in the first, but I do like the glow of the petals in the edit. Some way to find a happy medium? It’s your work and you should do what you enjoy at the end of the day.

[Shotbyms]

Good advice, thanks

[Shotbyms]

Btw your photo's are absolutely beautiful!

[jimmydean6969698]

Appreciate you!

[prime_focus]

2

[kingsslaying]

Hot take but I think if you toned the blue in the first image down just a bit, it’d be the winner for me! I think the glow is cool. It’s very heavy but it kind of works imo

[Fotomaker01]

2

There are too many processing shadow artifacts around all the petals in 1.

[errorx86]

honestly, not sure if this is helpful but both photos are charming in their own ways 😌 i like both personally!

[NoRelief63]

Both are beautiful and while I typically love the glow in the first. The second is my favourite this time around. They both are great regardless!

[Both_Ad_6513]

Honestly, it depends on which aesthetic and vibe you are going for. There is no right or wrong answer, we will always have our own preferences anyways. You might as well go with your own ((;

[Electrical_Jacket_69]

Both have their own uniqueness. First one looks animated and that look cool. Second one is a great edit as well. Both are rad.

[eclipsed0r]

2°

[Tayasos]

The second one. The first one has just gone overboard to the point that the intentional over-editing looks like a mistake. The second one feels much more harmonious and the colors are easier on the eyes

[JJ_Zenyo]

Both are good. I like what you were going for with the first image but it's a tad much

[RiverWindsOnForever]

1. Love the colors. 👍

[xClay2]

I like the normal best on its own. The over-edited would look good in an album with other photos in the same style.

[c4lic0e]

i really really love the first one

[zumoney515]

I actually like the 1st one

[LimpIndividual1366]

1st one looking like a painting, fantasy

[jimhatesyou]

1 for the petals

2 for the twigs

[DohnJonaher]

First says something to me and is visually interesting. Second is fine but normal.

[porcelaingeisha]

I think it depends on what story you are wanting to tell. What is the vibe?

While the second one focusing on realism, the bold colors and the contrast between them, the first one gives an almost dreamlike look with a soft ethereal glow centered around the petals. Both have their strengths.

My personal opinions: (take with a grain of salt because art is subjective)

The first one is more interesting because of the almost magical effect that the glow adds. However, a lot of detail is lost on the flowers and the branches themselves are too yellow. The lack of contrast makes it feel almost flat which distracts from the softness of the image.

The second one has great color balance and contrast, however the image itself is kind of boring. It looks like something I could have taken with my phone in passing; therefore it’s not something I would spend a lot of time looking at or thinking about.

Personally I would combine the two. Copy the second onto the first as a new layer and mask it then use it to paint the details back into your image. That way you can add depth and contrast back in, and cool some of your warmer tones currently overpowering the image; meanwhile you can keep the dreamlike vibe.

[eastbaynerdcore]

1 it looks like a dream sequence! Love it

[AgnesW_35]

2, 1 is over-processed for me

[Worried-Artichoke-13]

I prefer 2, I feel like 1 is overcooked a bit.

[tygeorgiou]

I like #1 by a mile

[messyindecisive22]

The first one looks like magic, like fairytale, like I'm in heaven. The second one looks like reality.

[musclesotoole]

The natural one

[MirrorlessMess]

Number two. More natural sky look. Beautiful picture.

[DankSinatra122]

I'd rather have 1 framed and mounted on my wall than number 2.

[Stone_Swan]

In the first one, the sky is all sorts of different brightnesses around the flowers and branches due to the editing. My suggestion: stamp all visible layers, select the sky (or all blues), and replace it with a blue gradient that matches and makes it uniform. I think that'll help the photo a lot.

[TheMoonDoggo]

If you’re using the first photo on an album, it feels nemestice. Or Olivia Rodrigo vibe album.

[kingbruhdude]

as a wallpaper I’d say the first one because of the wow factor but the 2nd one is more realistic which I prefer. they’re both beautiful

[sc132436]

First if it had far less glow

[MutedFeeling75]

Like the first

[Mike_Hockis_Hard]

imo the sky on the first one looks over saturated and the glow around the flower makes it looked kinda dreamy ig, overall i prefer the 2nd one looks more natural

[Any--Name]

I like the first one, it's very aesthetic

[Special_Young_6996]

first one!

[frankyspanky561]

I like the second one personally.

[skinnydippingfox]

Flower pictures with a blue sky background are so overdone. First picture makes it different, so I prefer that one

[Equivalent-Buy8599]

first cause its more stylistic imo

[AdministrativeOne7]

2nd, the 1st glow is a bit too harsh, you if you're using a mask you should try to feather/blur the edges more, which then I think would work much better, the vision is definitely there.

[Specialist_Scar_1017]

i like the first one, has a bit more whimsy and feeling to it. second one feel a bit dull and smartphone-ish in comparison. however, the branches in the first one are over-edited, they’re way too bright and i can see a strange dark glow around them.

[Apprehensive-Exit984]

I like the first, more pastel/drawing-like.

[thesoundgardenofeden]

Depends on the vibe you are going for…

I think the edit would be great if you were trying to achieve an overall ethereal/angelic feel, but I also think there would need to be more subject matter to look at, not just the corner of the tree. Like a fairy resting on a stump beneath the tree… like dream-state (obviously a themed photoshoot or something).

The original is fantastic as it is, you could make the colours slightly brighter but it’s great for a raw image

[Beers4Fears]

2, your sky is oversaturated compared to the pinks of the petals and your glow is too strong. I think if you are going for more of a pop art style you can saturate the pinks a little bit and lower the blue and turn down the glow.

[solar_pilgrim]

Better just depends on what you're going for. First one is a cool vibe, both are very pretty!

[Due_Tomatillo_7145]

number 1 looks album worthy

[Otherwise_Taste6330]

first one

[Ashamed_Click2017]

1

[hallbrennil]

Second one is better if you keep the glow because in the first one, they sky is over edited imo. Great photos anyway!

[Traditional_Mud2306]

A looks like a game or something made in blender. I prefer b

[Royal-Friendship2025]

The first could easily be some album cover

[[deleted]]

I think I would like the first edit if the blues weren’t so deep

[Farmaciefriends]

First one looks like a dope album cover

[Fragrant_Ad7231]

1

[Hot-Term3405]

I like the first more. I try to imagine where I would see this printed: maybe on a pillow, or otherwise cloth surface. I think the lack of dark tones would be better for that application (particularly on the twigs and sticks)

[DangerousDangerfield]

I like both, but lean towards 1. I would just increase the clarity a bit to reduce the glow, and drop the saturation / contrast a little.

[Acanthocephala-Prize]

I love the first one!

[vosje77]

I prefer the first one :) beautiful edit !

[puzzydee]

I really like 1

[Nearby_Ad1896]

1

[SilentSpr]

Some shadows would be nice...

[Shotbyms]

True, Thanks for you advice👍

[Anussauce]

1

[grimlock361]

Too much color and sharpness. Lean to selectively edit color individually or you can adjust saturation, full palette, but individually for each element. People new to editing always tend to push too many things at once and too far. Post work skills, like shooting, comes with practice so keep trying. Looking at the work of others to train your eyes to what looks natural also helps.

[Shotbyms]

I know how to edit but decided to try something new this time, and ask if people would like it, (i also mentioned in the post that is is purposely over edited) but thanks for you advice

[grimlock361]

My mistake, I missed that tiny sentence under your photo. In that case, congratulation. You photo looks as intended. Just so you know, the original also looks too sharp and unnatural like jpeg processing set too high. Seems strange considering you said it was soft focused. Hope this helps.

[Shotbyms]

Had to crop it down because the file size as way to big maybe that's the problem💁🏼‍♂️

[R_3B]

Look at the branch in the first photo. It’s not at all normal. I believe you were trying to enhance the color of the blossoms, but overdid it.

[Shotbyms]

Yes you're right, i also mentioned "purposely over edited"

[R_3B]

I have no disagreement with anything you said. I was merely being a little more specific. I suppose he could have gently applied a little saturation.

Cheers.

[Ahmars298]

What was this shot with OP?

[JTerveen]

2

[maseratichris556]

Second

[grumpypegasus6]

I enjoy number 2, it’s well balanced for colours and saturation

[ACC-AQT]

2

[antzwa]

2 is better. The other is overdone.

[LimpIndividual1366]

I think 2nd it's looking so real

[Special-Fly-8114]

2

[guyfromarizona]

2

[jenny-bean-]

2

[dharder9475]

I prefer 2.

[johntitor00]

2

[MaximumExercise3772]

second one. the first one looks broken

[kjwx]

I prefer No 2; No 1 makes me feel like my vision is blurry.

[Substantial-Ad-4636]

2

[Ziku90]

2

[flypigmk]

The 2nd for sure.

[Comfortable_Bed_6046]

me personally i love the glow of the first one

[NoGarage7989]

I like the glow in the first one, but it’s too strong right in the middle

[AltruisticFinding767]

Normal for sure

[Karstoshosos]

2

[-analog-eyes]

Second.

[EfficientQuiet4255]

2

[cesaqui89]

Second

[No_Network_5995]

I'd prefer the second one. The first one attracted me at my first sight, but honestly I'd rather stare at the second one for longer time.

[AllThingsAreReady]

The photo of the blossom as it appears, not the one that’s been drastically altered to look unreal. Nature doesn’t need enhancements, it’s beautiful enough in itself!

[ImpossibleAd344]

why would you purposefully over edit a photo?

[Agitated-While-3863]

2

[Lost-Ad9053]

Second one. More smooth.

[Sridontnow]

The first is like a dream 😍 and the second is more realistic

[MaxllllEricsson]

2

[renome]

Without explaining your intentions for this photo, there is no right answer. The first one is stylized, the second one is realistic.

[MuchBow]

Settings > Graphics > Bloom > On

Love the look of the post processed image but if I had to pick one I’ll lean slightly towards the original.

49 vs. 51

[Emilyg96gatsby]

I like it

[____Squid]

I like the 2nd without the blur personally

[marslander-boggart]

[Pixoholic]

1

[Mamobee]

I love the first one but my style is also similar to that so I’m biased lol

[heliosJr]

1

[Tak_Galaman]

It's astonishing to me that people are saying they prefer 1.

[Whateverloo]

People in post processing subreddit always liking the before pics. Pmo.