Flower post-processing

The RAW capture, i.e., what came straight out of the camera

The RAW capture is flat, the midtones predominate, making a beautiful white lily grey and dull. By increasing the highlights, darkening the shadows and adjusting the midtones, the image is given more drama and contrast. (In the conversion to PB's narrower sRGB colour space, I blew out the highlights above the stamen - sorry.)

Sharpening: all images come out of digital cameras, scanners, etc., slightly soft. This has nothing to do with focusing. Every digital image can stand a little sharpening, although it is easy to overdo it. Most post-processing applications feature a sharpening or "unsharp mask" tool. It may not be quite so obvious on a website, but try comparing the first and third and even the second and third images. In No. 3, the texture of the lily comes out; the tip and the stamen are more noticeable.