Which Edit

[Shadowman]

1.
2.
3.

[pnodrog]

The first edit but with the face and hair lightened similar to the second image.

[flashback]

John, definitely the first image for me too. Maybe play with the curve a bit and bring up the mid-tones maybe.

[ShaneS]

I agree with others John. The first edit is the best of the three but could use a little pop. Black & white was a good choice IMHO.

I like the tones in the second version but find the bright spot around her to be overdone and distracting.

[wilgk]

I thought I liked the first best as the range of tomes works very well with the B/W conversion, but then I saw the colour and in this case, as the clothing and footwear are just so bright and vibrant and this is not just a portrait of her head/shoulders, I really think the colour ties the whole thing together - she is young she has a pink phone she is busy planning exciting things...let her keep her colour

[FootLoose]

I think the first is too flat.
I prefer the tones in the 2nd, but I don't like that spotlight.
However, I think the 3rd could be the best of the three. The purplish colour in her umbrella is picked up her purplish coloured hair, and again in subtle tones in the stonework behind her. So I would try a 3/4 crop - take her knees off, and that would preserve the bright colours. Then you would have the bright warm colours of the subject contrasted against the hard cold of the stone.

[John 2]

Definitely the third for me. The centre highlight is too distracting in the second and the BG in the first is brighter than the subject and tends to draw my eye. The colour in the third compensates for that. If you prefer the mono, as someone has already suggested, a dose of curves will tone the BG down.

[Shadowman]

The first edit but with the face and hair lightened similar to the second image.

L. Paul,

Thanks for the comments and suggestions.

[Shadowman]

John, definitely the first image for me too. Maybe play with the curve a bit and bring up the mid-tones maybe.

Jack,

Thanks for the comments and suggestions.

[Shadowman]

I agree with others John. The first edit is the best of the three but could use a little pop. Black & white was a good choice IMHO.

I like the tones in the second version but find the bright spot around her to be overdone and distracting.

Shane,

Thanks for the comments and critique. The second edit was an experiment, I used PSE's lighting effects.

[Shadowman]

I thought I liked the first best as the range of tomes works very well with the B/W conversion, but then I saw the colour and in this case, as the clothing and footwear are just so bright and vibrant and this is not just a portrait of her head/shoulders, I really think the colour ties the whole thing together - she is young she has a pink phone she is busy planning exciting things...let her keep her colour

Kay,

Thanks for the comments.

[Shadowman]

I think the first is too flat.
I prefer the tones in the 2nd, but I don't like that spotlight.
However, I think the 3rd could be the best of the three. The purplish colour in her umbrella is picked up her purplish coloured hair, and again in subtle tones in the stonework behind her. So I would try a 3/4 crop - take her knees off, and that would preserve the bright colours. Then you would have the bright warm colours of the subject contrasted against the hard cold of the stone.

Greg,

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Don't you think the 3/4 crop will make the umbrella look odd?

[Shadowman]

Definitely the third for me. The centre highlight is too distracting in the second and the BG in the first is brighter than the subject and tends to draw my eye. The colour in the third compensates for that. If you prefer the mono, as someone has already suggested, a dose of curves will tone the BG down.

John,

Thanks for the comments and suggestions.

[IzzieK]

I am late to this party but I agree with LPaul's assessment...

[Shadowman]

I am late to this party but I agree with LPaul's assessment...

Isabel,

Never too late. Thanks for the comment.

[Shadowman]

Another edit.

4.
5.

[John 2]

That's a lot better John but the detail in her upper body has been slightly lost. What software are you using. If it's PS and a version that has the "Shadows and Highlights" tool, it will sort it and take the brighter RHS down a bit.

[Shadowman]

That's a lot better John but the detail in her upper body has been slightly lost. What software are you using. If it's PS and a version that has the "Shadows and Highlights" tool, it will sort it and take the brighter RHS down a bit.

John,

Using Elements 8 and it does have the shadows/highlight tool. Thanks for the suggestion.

[flashback]

4 & 5 are tough, I like each one for different elements. In 4, the pants look more natural, but in 5 I think her face looks a bit better, plus the highlight on the umbrella is toned down in 5, so I guess overall I like #5 best, maybe tone down the pants a tad?

[Shadowman]

4 & 5 are tough, I like each one for different elements. In 4, the pants look more natural, but in 5 I think her face looks a bit better, plus the highlight on the umbrella is toned down in 5, so I guess overall I like #5 best, maybe tone down the pants a tad?

Jack,

Thanks for the suggestions.