Love it.  Just looks so sad.

I am wondering how it would look with just a hint of colour, a bit like hand colouring?

 Probably lose it's atmosphere & look like one of my rose pics.

 Sylvia, is it actually a rose "Compassion" ?

Hi to both of you Doglover and Harry! Thank you so much for your brilliant comments.

To be honest, I have no idea what type of rose this is Harry? The reason I called it compassion was it was being eaten up by insects and had holes in the petals which ruined the beauty of this delicate flower. But despite this flaw something could be made from it as you can see, hence the title.

Lol Harry  

Doglover read his newsletter and saw that this photograph "Compassion" has been selected for

 POTW  

Thank you for that Doglover. I was actually quite surprised!

I wasn't congratulating myself, Harry, I might be a bit loopy but not that bad.

I was congratulating Sylvia for "Compassion"!!!!

Great Picture and great feeling too.    

Well done on POTW.

I like a lot of your stuff.

 I always read the forum notifications before the newsletter !

 Sandman's got the right idea, anyway.

Another very very beautifull one Sylvia you are so gifted. Well deserved POTW.

For me this is one of your best. It's not trying too hard - it's simple and straightforward. The black and white/near sepia is subtle and beautiful. The selected focal range and point has been well selected, which really helps the whole thing come together and actually evocate the image's title.

I'd like to see more of this more elk of work from you, where it's a case of getting the capture right in the first instance rather than depending on a lot of more notable post-production.  

Thank you Mike for your feedback!

I find that it is very difficult to get a good image out of post production if it isn't there in the first place?

This image has been tone-mapped in Photomatix and then converted into my special treatment in sepia in Paintshop just like most of my work?

But I do have photographs in my portfolio that have been left as I have taken them, like the black swans for instance! black swans These photographs have had no post production treatment but to convert them into this quality of cepia, which becomes one style, I have to work on them

Also, compare the difference in this work. Courtesy  Gentility  Culture   Courtliness  Black elegance