Samantha

[Gobsmacked]

I've tried for a dramatic look ! Crits . and comments please . I'm hoping some of you will have a play with the original to see what you can come up with .
( looking for lessons really ! )

[bulld0g]

my attempt softened the skin changed eye colour and made lips redder

[beefy24]

Here's my attempt

[elementsphoto]

Here is my take at it, I hope you don't mind

~Cady

[0lBaldy]

My try at I spy!

[elementsphoto]

Very nice, love what you did with the eyes!!

I dub her Sherletta Holmes

[Gobsmacked]

Thanks for the feedback , I like the softer look and Olbaldie's crop . But where are my lessons ? LOL ! Bill

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by Gobsmacked

I've tried for a dramatic look ! Crits . and comments please . I'm hoping some of you will have a play with the original to see what you can come up with .
( looking for lessons really ! )

Hmmm, comments... Looks to me as if you are doing pretty good! You are doing exactly what I tell everyone to do... Practice Cubed!! So, just keep on doing what you are doing!

Originally Posted by Gobsmacked

Thanks for the feedback , I like the softer look and Olbaldie's crop . But where are my lessons ? LOL ! Bill

Aww Shucks! I thought you wanted Dramatic! Oh Well!! LOL
I dump everything after I work on them so did not have my other version to reference from.. so I did a slightly softer version so you could have your lesson for the day!

Todays Lesson Is :
"Using a Luminosity selection as a mask to enhance highlights and shadows"

Ctrl+J Copy Background (uncheck the background eyeball)
Crop as needed
Shft+Ctrl+Alt+~ (to get luminosity selection)
In layers pallet .. click create new fill/adjustment layer... Select Curves.. Click OK (The luminosity selection should be in the mask thumbnail!)
Hold down Alt key and click on mask thumbnail (brings mask to forefront)
Ctrl+M to bring up the curves dialog box , move the top right hand dot to the left and the bottom left hand dot to the right to add more contrast and steepen the curve. (Make it very contrasty!)
Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur... blur by several pixels. Click OK
Rename curves layer to "Light"
Place cursor on mask thumbnail hold Ctrl Key down and click mouse button to make a selection of the mask
In layers pallet .. click create new fill/adjustment layer... Select Curves.. Click OK (The selection should be in the mask thumbnail!)
Ctrl+I (invert the mask)
Rename this curves layer to "Dark"
Adjust the two curves layers to bring out the highlights and shadows. (You can also paint on the masks as needed!)
After the shadows and highlights are just the way you want them...
Shft+Ctrl+Alt+N+E (make a copy of everything showing and put it on a new layer)
Do additional corrections as needed

[ikagami]

I wonder why everyone here thinks changing the colour of the skin gives a more dramatic image??

Try a more dramatic lighning when you shoot the image! maybe lowkey

[Gobsmacked]

Thanks Olbaldy , for the walk through , but I fell at the first hurdle !!! Shft+Ctrl+Alt+~ didn't get me a selection ! I must be missing something ! I did get there by ctrl clicking on the Blue Channel , from there on I followed your method . I'm going to do a bit more work on it ( her ) and then I'll post my finished work ! Thanks again , Bill

[Gobsmacked]

Originally Posted by ikagami

I wonder why everyone here thinks changing the colour of the skin gives a more dramatic image??

Try a more dramatic lighning when you shoot the image! maybe lowkey

When I said I was trying for a dramatic look , I was refering to the lighting . I wouldn't normally use that set up for a portrait of lady ! Sorry if my phrasing confused the issue . Bill

[oltenius]

Some really great versions!
Dan

[Gobsmacked]

My final result ! I've also added grain ( Tri-x ) . Thanks for allthe help and advice. Bill