RAW conversion help needed (harsh lighting)

[narlus]

casting this out to the ACR/PS experts...i am having a hard time getting the color version to look as good as the b/w white (neither of which are all that great, but the color version loses detail and sharpness, and the skin color transitions at the red and magenta tones are not good).

here's a color version of mine:

http://narlus.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p171393068-5.jpg


and here's a b/w version:

http://narlus.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p159609223-5.jpg



you can download the RAW file and my modified xmp sidecar file here (http://www.tinnitus-photography.com/Photos/narducy.zip).

any help is appreciated!

[envyr]

Here is my attempt in Lightroom, I'm not quite certain what you are looking for, but if this helps at all I can export my settings for you

[narlus]

that looks pretty good; i guess i tried the same sorta thing via desaturation (using the Hue/Saturation/Luminance tab in ACR) but didn't go as far. i don't have lightroom, but i am under the assumption that the raw controls are the same?

[PhotosGuy]

Seems as if you could just reduce the saturation a bit & use a layer mask to apply those "corrections" just where you want them. See post #9; PS Elements in Post # 14
A question about sky (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=338140)

[René Damkot]

Q&D thru LR.
http://www.moonglade.net/~rene/POTN/IMG_0826.jpg
(sorry, might have "my" IPTC in it :o)

XMP here (http://www.moonglade.net/~rene/POTN/IMG_0826.xmp)