Casual Portrait - Burned and Dodged - What Next?

[Radtech1]

I recently learned of a photography contest where the topic is "Casual Portraits". They are looking for anything from DSLRs to P&S - the only criteria is that it is not studio and the less "posed" the better.

I took this shot several years ago with my 10D, when Marcia and I were on our first trip to Eaton's Ranch in Wyoming. It was a quick grab shot, and in 2003 I was extremely proud of the fact that I was able to clone out some electrical wires that were behind her head.

I had no concept of local enhancement, I thought that the shot could be modified all or nothing and that was it. As a result though horses face is a little dark, but I couldn't do anything about that without blowing out the sky. I have since figured out that you could brighten some areas dark and others, and the second post here is the result of today's editing.

I'm a little stymied by the crop. I realize that her face is dead center but I don't know what else to do at this point. I've tried cropping off some of the right and wasn't exactly satisfied. If anyone has any suggestions I am open to them, otherwise general critique and comment is very much encouraged.

Rad

[Robert_Lay]

I sympathize with your assessment of the first version.
However, I am not as impressed by the improvements in the second version as you are.
For example, while the horse's face is now lighter, I can take it or leave it.

My heartburn is the sky - it was fine in the first version and I don't like it as well in the second version because it is not as deep and as even.

One thing that I really like in this picture is the angel's wing that Marcia is wearing over her left shoulder.
So, you dassn't crop any part of the right half of the picture.

[Radtech1]

Good thought on the Angel's Wing. I didn't notice - that settles the crop issue.

As to the sky --- Does it not look too cyan in the first version? At least to me, that was the big problem - it seemed to be a blue that, well, dosen't look real.

Rad

[Radtech1]

How is this as an in between. I pulled the sky from the unededited shot, set the opacity at about 70%, and also darkened the horses face.

Rad

[Robert_Lay]

In that last rendition it looks like the horse's face has been lightened, not darkened.
Also, in this last one the sky does not look quite as contrasty as #1, and the "wing" doesn't seem as distinct, but I'm splitting hairs.