f/22 Starbursts

[HelenClaire]

As part of the Weekly Challenge for this week we had to take shots using the f/22 aperture setting. I always use this for starbursts as I picked up this tip on a past photographic workshop I attended. One of these photos I post processed in Topaz Adjust and totally changed the look with a solarized preset to create a more abstract look. I was asked to show the before image to show the starburst in its original glory. I also have posted a before and after shot of a scene from the park I did the photoshoot in, also showing a starburst, though the composition isn't overly interesting. Could have done better.
I always move around until I can get the object in front of the sun to just block it enough to only allow the rays to come through, not the full sun otherwise you get green solar flares. Anyway here are my before and after shots.

Before 1/80 f/22 ISO 100
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll284/rawbytes/Starburst2_zpsd3d7a890.jpg

After with some cropping and minor PP in Lightroom. Just increasing saturation to make the colours richer etc.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll284/rawbytes/Starburst2PP_zpsb8378201.jpg


Before 1/30 f/22 ISO 100
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll284/rawbytes/Starburst1_zpsbff76956.jpg


After with a 2:1 crop and then putting it through Topaz Adjust to solarize
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll284/rawbytes/WeeklyChallenge-f-22_zps612e4d13.jpg

[Mary Anne]

HelenClaire: What a difference Topaz Adjust made to that image it certainly different, and Thanks for Sharing.

[Mark L]

After seeing your PPed photo in the challenge, I imagined the original would be more interesting than it is.:confused013

[HelenClaire]

Mark, that is why I PPed it. I was pressed for time and took some shots but not overly happy with the compositions but very happy with the star bursts, so I thought I wonder what would happen if I played around in Topaz.

[dacar]

I like what you have done in #2. Very attractive.