This is the original image:
I took this image with a Canon 7D and an 18-270mm lens zoomed in to 150mm. I chose ISO 125 for minimal noise, and 1/250th shutter speed to lessen camera shake. I also used f/22 for depth of field.
At the camera right, a Canon Speedlite 580EX II fired at 1/4th power through a sheet of paper to diffuse the light.
I did much of the basic adjustments in Camera Raw, using the adjustment brushes for different parts of the image, and tweaking the Exposure, Contrast, and Clarity sliders.
