Which Edit is Better? (C&C are welcomed also)

Samerr9 · May 17, 2011

Hi all ..

I am trying to improve my editing and effects on photos.. In order to compare, I have applied three different edits on the same image.

I will be grateful to know what do you think of each and which is better? Also C&C are always welcomed.

Thanks

AAH

1.

2.

3.

Robin Usagani · May 17, 2011

i like 2 and 3

Samerr9 · May 17, 2011

Schwettylens said:
i like 2 and 3

Hey.. hope you are doing great..

Thank you for the comment.

PhotoTish · May 17, 2011

Here's a vote for No. 2 :thumbup:

Samerr9 · May 17, 2011

PhotoTish said:
Here's a vote for No. 2 :thumbup:

Thanks for voting

bigboi3 · May 17, 2011

I really like the edits on 1 and 2.

willis_927 · May 17, 2011

I'd say I like 1 and 3 the best.

skieur · May 17, 2011

Number 1 has the most accurate skin colour and that is important in any portrait, but the "brain amputation" is a major weakness in any portrait.

skieur

mjbine · May 17, 2011

Andrew Anthony · May 18, 2011

#2 as i like the way the shadows fall best in that shot!

The_Traveler · May 18, 2011

I tend to agree with skieur about the cutting off of the head, most specifically when the subject has thinning hair and the crop is at that.

Perhaps it is my monitor but I think this image has a greenish tinge
Here it is with less green in mid-tones and highlights and with some burn-in on the overly bright throat.

How does this look to you?

ghache · May 18, 2011

i vote for 1, i like the skin tons better than number 2 ans number 3 has way too much sharpning

Samerr9 · May 19, 2011

Thank you all..

Actaully 1 is the one out of the camera with just some cleaning edit.. On the same photo (no.1) I have applied the hue/saturation and curves filters to get no. 2 and no. 3 is a BW with a blueish/grey tint.. I tend to like the effect in no.2 for alot of my portraits. But I don't know when to edit to get this result and when not to.

@ skieur/The_traveler: Now I do see the green tint.. however when I was working on it I didn't! It seems your eyes minupilate the results when they are tired

Thanks for the edit. On the other hand, I am really confused now.. I have concluded earlier that it is fine to cut off "the brain" but never the chin, that is based on some reading and looking at alot of photos in magazines and the net. Now, what I did was not exactly proper.. Ideally speaking, is there some clear rules for framing such portraits?

Thank you all again..

Kiwi_gav · May 19, 2011

Hey mate,
I'm voting for number 1, I find it has a pleasant tone and softness to it.

The_Traveler · May 19, 2011

Samerr9 said:
Thank you all..

@ skieur/The_traveler: Now I do see the green tint.. however when I was working on it I didn't! It seems your eyes minupilate the results when they are tired Thanks for the edit. On the other hand, I am really confused now.. I have concluded earlier that it is fine to cut off "the brain" but never the chin, that is based on some reading and looking at alot of photos in magazines and the net. Now, what I did was not exactly proper.. Ideally speaking, is there some clear rules for framing such portraits?

I agree that exposure to any off-tint is gradually deadened by one's eye/brain. When editing I always keep the original as a layer so I can shut off the other layers quickly and flash back to that one. I think that tends to keep my eye 'alive.'

re: cutting the head a bit. The problem I have with this particular instance is that, by cutting through that area where he is starting to bald, it makes me wonder what is happening above.
If he had a full head of hair or was obviously bald, it would have been less of a question and less of something that attracted my attention. That is a totally un-photographic response, I know, but it is how it seems to me on reflection.