Did I improve the image or not?

[dsanders]

The first image is out of the camera the second had been tweaked with the intent of bringing out the subject from the busy background. Let me know if you like or dislike. If dislike, please comment.

[dsanders]

I raised the midtone with levels first, then I blurred the background and then I burned the background midtones and highlights. But the arm infront of the subjects face still bothers me.

[dsanders]

Alright, I think I'm fairly happy. Please critique on this one.

[Craig Wilkins]

Still Distracting abit better the arm in the left pulls at my eye though.

Then again I got a nasty cold & fever now so hey no telling but I think it's better.

maybe a longer focal length would of helped? I'm guessing it would of been kinda rough to get in close.

[dsanders]

i probably should use a mask and then go about getting rid of the background. I got a little lazy. I might go at it tomorrow.

[sbug_adam]

dont like how you did the background, but the woman looks pretty good.. and wow, look at that arm!

adam

[Clint_Smith]

do you mind if others play with your images? I got an idea.

[dsanders]

Clint give it a shot. I hope you do much better.

[dsanders]

Adam, you can give it a shot as well if you like. I just don't know what to do with the background here. Blurring helps, but it isn't enough. I'm thinking maybe if I create a mask and then blur the background with Gaussin blur- maybe, but then I still don't think it will be that great.

I like the look of the biker, she looks strong, yet soft, and attractive at the same time. Something you might find in a fantasy magazine. I'd like to save the image somehow.

[Clint_Smith]

here is my shot...there were alot of Jaggies which made it hard to blend it very well



here is what I did.

1. Dupped layer
2. did and extract of the dup layer
3. did levels adjustment on original layer/added slight blur
4. did levels adjustment on dup layer to add some pop
5. ran grain surgery to try and remove some of the jaggies.
6. flattened and saved as PNG to reduce compression artifacts

[dsanders]

Clint you did an excellent job. I'm still trying a different way, but yours is better by far. Th only thing I don't like is the arm (in the background) infront of her lip. But you made the skin color look alot less washed out.

[Clint_Smith]

if you had little better quality (without as much compression) image I think I could really make her pop, but I had a real hard time with the jaggies on this one