Looking for opinions on an effect

[tmyprod]

I was playing around with effects in iphoto.

#1a

#1b

#2a

#2b

I got this by using both the "boost color" and "fade color" at the same time. These are only screen grabs of a doc I shot in Sturgis, so the resolution isn't the best. What do you guys(and girls) think of the look?

-Tyler

btw, that is Joe and Marcelo of Dog Leg Preacher.

Here is a link to the whole set of screen grabs if your interested:
http://flickr.com/photos/tmyprod/sets/72157606949180170/

 

[Resin42]

I like the effect, very gritty. The 1st is maybe slightly dark, there's a lot of detail lost around the mouth.

Couldn't the same effect be achieved by simply darkening and desaturating?

 

[tmyprod]

It comes close, but it isn't quite as dark and gritty. Of course I'm just screwing around in iPhoto, I've yet to bust out photoshop for this.

 

[austriker]

pretty good from what i understand iphoto is lacking but i dont really want to post-process yet.. still working on getting great shots.. =)

the first edit is better i think except for it losing image and getting black around the right side, but that might contribute to it, im not entirely sure (im a n00b)