Very cool....

Believe it or not THIS is my favourite photograph. I know the purist will say it is not  true photography because of the severe use of filters etc in Photoshop - but if you look closely the original image is still there and the enhancement makes it moer a work of art. But after all - good photos are ALL works of art! - are they not ?!?!!?
Any I am glad somebody else liked it too. Thank you houstonryan.

This would look great as a big canvas print - IMHO, I like it a lot!

Cosidering your superb photograpy skill ladycompact - your humble opinion is really appreciated - Thank you again for your inspirational comments.

http://community.dcmag.co.uk/photos/gil_ritchies_gallery/default.aspx

This is a beautifulo work of art!!!  Excellent!!!!!

Thanks Nick but the purist don't seem to like it or maybe it is just the "trolls" or "gremlins" at work again lol Anyway a belated thank you for taking the time out to comment on it.

You're making me think more and more about using Photoshop.. bad boy!
Great picture - love the effect.

Glad you liked it EyeWest.

But think of this : - a good photograph is not just one that comes straight out the camera - whether the photo is a perfect pre exposure  or whether enhanced by post exposure editing - does it make that much of a difference - surely the "end" resulting image is what  really counts - In the old pre digital days people didn't seem to frown about post editing (darkroom techniques) - so why complain at post exposure editing now ( not just Photoshop - there so many other good quality software about) - all to assist in producing good quality photographs - I just wish the purists would drag themselves into the 21st century - maybe such perocial attitudes  are  perpetrated by certain professional photographers wanting to protect their living - if so - that I can, in some respects, understand - but for the hobby photographer- to keep their heads buried in the sand - and shun the aid of such great editing software - saddens me - it is such a waste of a great opportunity to improve their photography no end - I have spouted long enough.

Back to my thanking you EyeWest - it is without a doubt MY personal favourite - so your kind commet was even more appreciate .  Regards Gil

I started out in the B&W darkroom and we had limits as to what we would do with an image. I aimed never to make the image look artificial, but if it created an 'arty' shot that was okay. My interest in those days was in press photography and as you may recall from the recent story about the Reuters photographer, a photograph must not be edited to mislead the reader/viewer; i.e. removing or adding people. But in these galleries were talking about ART not NEWS, so I guess we should be allowed to be creative and do what we want. With Bees Breakfast and the Portugese Rooftops, you haven't (that I can see) added or removed anything, you've mearly enhanced the image and you've created some great art.
You can't create that right out of the camera, but you had to get a good enough image to start with.
Anyway, I'm just jealous cause I haven't had the time to get to grips with Photoshop.

You 've put it better than I could have - my sentiments entirely - thanks for you words of encouragement and praise EyeWest.