Ice storm beauty

I'm looking for suggestions about this shot. The background seems busy, but I like the parts that are in focus. Any ideas?

Yes, the background seems busy but the foreground is terrific.

Presumably you'd want to separate the background/foreground without spending all afternoon using the pen tool and then accentuate the background blur and perhaps also play with the lighting on the foremost branches.

That sounds exactly like what this shot needs. I am still learning PS, and will have to study the book.

I absolutely agree with Peter. The ice should really sparkle and the background should probably be darker as well as a bit more unfocused. This is one shot that will benefit from Photoshop 8's lens blur filter. Also, this will be a great opportunity to practice using an adjustment layer's layer mask. Use the pen tool to define the foreground, and fine tune with the brush on the levels layer mask.

 

This one is worth the effort.

I might just let the right hand branch go with the background and concentrate on the near branch with the fruit on it. The best way to do this is to make a path around the foreground parts that you want so as to be able to try different things with the BG. It takes a bit of time but the path can be used for all sorts of things including making new masks.

 

The colors are neat and the fact that all the leaves are gone is also cool.

Thanks very much for your suggestions. It will take some time to learn how, but I plan to try them.