Comment from WendyG
Hi Mary, the Magnolia blooms are among some the most beautiful and this has yet to show it's full potential, a lovely budding bloom with beautiful shades of pink. Although the b/g is a bit distracting and I'm afraid the cloning is poor as you can see where you tried to eliminate the branch as the cloned pattern is repetitive.

 Comment Written 11-Aug-2014

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reply by the author on 11-Aug-2014

Thanks Wendy, appreciate your honesty I havent done any cloning before and can't say as I like doing it - I had better practice some more :) Mary

reply by WendyG on 11-Aug-2014

It does take some practice, sometimes you have to go over the area using light and dark and making sure not to repeat a pattern or get too close to the edge as it will cone that too! Takes getting used to but I'm sure you will get the hang of it:)

Comment from supergold
a wonderful close up of this beautiful pink magnolia soulangeana bud; amazing lighting and pin sharp focus showing nicely the texture of the petals;

 Comment Written 11-Aug-2014

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reply by the author on 11-Aug-2014

Thanks so much your positive feedback is appreciated. :) Mary

Comment from Cephus
Find the bud placed well but would have moved the vantage point or something to avoid the bud in the back (or a portion of this bud) that creates a serious visual distraction.

Like the pink color and the blue sky but find the sun to be a bit too bright with a major hotspot.

Good seperation with the background and the colors work.

 Comment Written 10-Aug-2014

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reply by the author on 11-Aug-2014

Thanks Cephus I appreciate your constructive feedback and will pay more attention to hotspots and distractions in future. :) Mary

Comment from M. Celeste
So beautifully done. Love the soft, blurred b/g and the velvet quality of the bloom. Great clarity, lighting and detail. The color is beautiful. Wonderful work!

 Comment Written 10-Aug-2014

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reply by the author on 11-Aug-2014

Thanks so much, I appreciate your positive feedback.

Comment from gidavidson
Looks very healthy and a promise of a full bloom soon. Good angle, focus and frame with a nice sunny day view. I miss the magnolia here in Arizona.

 Comment Written 10-Aug-2014

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reply by the author on 11-Aug-2014

Thanks George, appreciate your feedback. They are beautiful flowers, you have those awesome cacti flowers instead :) Mary

Comment from DavidP
Very pretty Mary. Nice bud ready to open up and show off its beauty to the world. Like how its sticking up towards that blue sky in the background. Nice and sharp and a fine flower photo of the pretty magnolia. Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 10-Aug-2014

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reply by the author on 11-Aug-2014

Thanks David, appreciate your positive feedback. :) Mary

Comment from jrconrad
Really like the detail here. Pink magnolia? I didn't know there was such a thing. I'm surrounded by magnolias but have never seen a pink one. Nice shot. Thanks, JR

 Comment Written 10-Aug-2014

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reply by the author on 11-Aug-2014

Thanks JR I am amazed you haven't got pink ones they are reasonably common here maybe they are specific to Australia and New Zealand where I have also seen them. :) Mary

Comment from suzannethompson2
Excellent close up of this lovely pink magnolia bloom. I like the angle you used for this with the softened background foliage and sky making a perfect frame.

Lighting and focus very good showing excellent clarity. Very nice composition. Suzanne

 Comment Written 10-Aug-2014

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reply by the author on 11-Aug-2014

Thanks Suzanne, appreciate your feedback. :) Mary

Comment from soulfeeder
Very lovely. I love the focus and the great display of the fresh and huge petals with its various shades of pink. That other branch, however is a bit of a distraction, but easy to get rid of, by cloning or even just paint it with the same color of your existing colors in the background. Focus, angle, lighting and technical skills, high five. Well captured but can be improve.

 Comment Written 10-Aug-2014

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reply by the author on 10-Aug-2014

Thanks I gave the cloning a try and reloaded. :) Mary