This was a Nikon Micro 105mm f2.8 @3.3

Nice macro shot -- tough to get all in focus with macro unless you use f16-22 and a tripod. This shot is all about the colors though, so its great. Is it an edible flower? When my chives bloomed this year I couldn't stand to waste them so I came up with a Buttermilk Chive Flower Bread recipe. Pic attached. Chive flowers are in front of the bread. Lilacs are behind -- not edible I believe!

That is a lovely composition, thank you.

I wanted just the front of the blossom in focus, I typically shoot at F32 to F40 if I want more in focus, of course that introduces diffraction issues. :)

Somehow, I get the uneasy feeling that I am being attacked by either a large ALIEN SPECIES or maybe a NEW earth virus? It is less than subtle to my taste. The flower color is OK, but maybe have the camera further back just a little.
.....And there is NO, or little, contrast or difference between foreground and background. I would airbrush the background to some (?) light blue or gray or maybe even white and see what that looks like - if that is possible? But, it is nice that your bent to be flexible for your audience!

Thank you everyone very much for the kind words and suggestions. I really appreciate them all.

To clarify a little.

The one above (in the post) was an editing attempt to come up with a "different" look than I would normally do. MY goal was a soft pastel look, as someone said, sort of a watercolor painting-like look.

Here is the original "out of the camera". I shot it to intentionally have everything out of focus except the very center front of the blossom. Then edited it to get the pastel low contrast look.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...b63b250b_k.jpg

Here is the same (or one just like it) flower from a couple of days ago, and how I "normally" would have edited it.

Here you can see most of the flower itself is in focus, and the background is out of focus. I have darkened the background to increase the separation between the flower and the background, and boosted the saturation some to make the colors "pop" or more vivid" (maybe too much). I would probably also crop this to have less background showing. But, this out of my camera and adjusted to my "regular" style.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...45fdb5d6_k.jpgon Flickr

Beautiful picture. Continue to step out of your comfort zone and explore!!! It is working!!!!

Thank you.