I just found this...what do you good people think?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

[Mira]

1. I came and looked a few times.

At first I thought that I liked the color, found it interesting and theme appropriate, but that it lacked that extra bit of excitement to enter it into the contest.

Then I studied the relationships of the upper and lower half circles and saw what I needed to do.
Please forgive me for taking your photo in my hand for a minutes.

The reason I cropped it that way is because the top and bottom now really talk to each other IMO and the excitement was only hidden.
Then I simply added light and then contrast in Picasa. I think I also pulled the sharpening slider a bit.

I took the lead in responses because you asked it's my job right now a little bit more than the rest of the group.
I hope you see what I see and like the small change.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Thank you so much, my dear Mira!

You took my rough photograph, and you turned it into something really beautiful.

I really like this...I mean, you really did more work than I did just taking it.

I almost feel as though I shouldn't enter it!

But I will.

Thank you so much.

[Mira]

3. Peggy, it was truly nothing.. Just a little different crop and a little push on the color.

I was really happy with the result myself, and worried that you would consider not entering it now.
I'm glad you will, and I'm glad you did not resent my opinion expressed in deed instead of word.
:)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. I wouldn't call it nothing exactly...

Since I don't know how to do what you did!

I've saved it, and now I'm going to retrieve it and put it in my Photobucket...

:D

[Mira]

5. Tell me this: Do you have Picasa installed? It is a free program from Google

www.picasa.com

If you do let's talk in pm in order to not bore the rest of them.
I can tell you in 5 sentences or less exactly what I did, and why what I did is not intrusive to your photo.

That simple program only brought out some of the contrast and showed the sunshine a bit better.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. I don't have it........yet.

One of these days I'll install it, but not today...too much to do today.

Feel free to PM me with the details.

:hi:

[Mira]

7. I'll do it when you've got it. Until then, no need. You won't regret getting it. n/t