Lotus abound!

Each morning is a thrill for photographing the lotus!  About 100 are in bloom right now, with buds still coming on.  The pods from the withered blooms are enlarging, with seeds beginning to show in their development.  Great season for these flowers!  I am enthralled by them.

Here are two images. One is a straight photographic image and the other is a montage produced through manipulation. I actually like them both. Your thoughts?