So I hope everyone doesn't mind but this post is more about the Post Processing, - process. As a strictly local photographer, there are a few natural events that I enjoy capturing, the Sunflowers and the Waterlilies / Lotus blooms. The Sunflowers are just starting to flower, and I have tried a different approach to the post processing where I have intentionally cut back on the saturation, attempted to capture more Bokeh as a design element, and still use the rules of composition to have a foreground, middle and background.. (not easy with photos of flowers), but what I need are honest opinions from other photographers, I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I honestly want to know what you think.... too much, not enough, poor composition....
thanks

Taken 7/6/2020 at 2:37 in the horrible time for light
f/5.6
1/640 sec
ISO 100
Lens Pentax 50mm to 300mm at 260mm
I find it interesting Buddy. I think the only changes I'd maybe consider is maybe slightly less contrast and maybe a little more breathing room on the edges. But that's just my personal opinion, and I wasn't there so I don't know what is beyond the edges. I know how hard it can be to try to cut out things you don't want in the image. I do like the juxtaposition of the sunflower in light and what I take it is another in shadow out of focus.
I like the sunflower very much. I don't care for the black blotch in the background. Would prefer if it were the same green as the rest of the background. Maybe use the clone stamp on it? Am wondering how this would work either as a vertical/portrait format or a square format.
So, I got this one of the sunflowers and still trying to creatively use Bokeh, (as least this one doesn't look like a black blob.. and I was also trying to keep the composition with a foreground, middle and background... Problem is I really did not get all three, but I like the bokeh effect that I was after
Minor color, lighting, edits but mostly right from the camera
Pentax K3ii
Taken 7/9/2020 at 5:26 pm
f/6.3
1/320 sec
ISO 100
Pentax telephoto lens 50mm to 300mm at 300mm
Waaaaaaaay better, Buddy. I see what you're saying about not getting all three. A third one in the background would've been really nice. But I still like it, nice color.
The sun was at a great low angle, the hardest part was dealing with the electric fence used to keep the deer out, luckily my tripod isn't metal, but I got a few zaps, and used a longer