opinions and advice on this please

[Boosting1Bar]

Hi gang, I've been working on this picture trying to get it to look like I used some fill flash (since I'm an idiot and didn't). It's a little out of the lines around the edge of her face, but I'm more looking for opinions on whether it looks natural or not. I don't really want to put a bunch of time into it if it isn't even going to look right. If it does I'll go back and redo it correctly. Your input and advice is greatly appreciated!
Here's the original
http://www.boosting1bar.com/canon/original.jpg

and the one I've been working with...
http://www.boosting1bar.com/canon/fillflash.jpg

[Radtech1]

Short answer: Yes, it looks very natural.

Except for tidying up the selection, as you mentioned, I would not do anything else to the face. The rest of the image *might* benifit from a little lightening and just a smidgen of +intensity.

But as for your concern, very well done.

Rad

[JZaun]

I find the main subject very nice but that white building in the back ground is distracting..(to me anyway) I am not strong in PS so I am not sure the best way ot resolve that. I believe I would just crop it out.. including that sign behind the car.

JZaun

[Idoc]

Hmmm....

I like the woman, very natural and nice subject and the changes you made work well.

The background seems a tid bit confusing, maybe if there was more DOF so just she is in focus. Just a thought :idea:

[Meerkat17]

Here's my play on it.

I like the photo very much and was compelled to give it a go first before posting a comment.

Here's what I achieved:

http://www.btinternet.com/~David.Lewins/g5/images/original.jpg

What I did:

I altered the levels and increased the saturation slightly to briing some colour into the face I also adjusted the blue curve to take away the slight blue cast.

Also, I used the burn tool to slightly dull the building in the background. I don't feel that it worked too well.

2. Then I made a new layer

3. enter quick mask mode (press letter Q ) and masked off the main subject then inverted the mask.

4. Next I selected the gradient tool, and chose the foreground to transparent gradient.

5. Draw a gradient from top to bottom (press Shift to get it straight).

6. Leave quick mask mode.

7. Then click on your original layer, and do a copy/paste - this makes a new layer automatically.

8. I use gaussian blur on the new layer set at about 5. It's up to you what you choose.

That's it - hope its OK

Regards
David

[Calis]

My take on it:

http://www.pbase.com/image/27526128/original.jpg

I (obviously) cropped out the distracting background
Brightened up the whole thing
Pushed the levels a lot higher, undid that and used the history brush to paint it back onto her face.
Tweaked the amount of this to about 60%
Selecte the background with a 5 px feather and applied a gausian blur
pushed up the saturation about 20%
selected her eyes and did unsharp mask at 85, 1.5, 3

[ecobo]

Here's my proposition. It's a nice photo, and you don't have to edit it too much.
http://www.e-cobo.com/random/portra.jpg

[Leighow]

I think that I like Nikolay's best.

She is a lovely lady ... but ... as others have said .. the background and venue are not flattering. This woman's profile wold be dynamite -- given the right light.

You have to think about this. If you just want a snapshot -- then its fine ! If you want to grow towards something more outstanding...what might that be?