Am I too scared of contrast?

[gwc1023]

When I'm adjusting my RAW files I tend to back down on my initial contrast adjustment, thinking 'oh, that looks like too much,' but when I see other people's images that I like the PP'ing, I realize that there's way more contrast there. And of course when I go back and look at mine, it's hard to stay objective with your own images.

Could you look at these two and tell me which one is 'better' as far as contrast goes? Probably not the best image to work with, as the bride's dress was a bit blown out, but it illustrates the point, I think.

270341

270342

[PixelMagic]

I like the second one better but it appears that in adjusting the contrast you also affected the luminosity of the image. Also I prefer to increase contrast only in the areas where I want to draw the viewer's attention rather than doing it globally.

[mai_lin]

When I'm adjusting my RAW files I tend to back down on my initial contrast adjustment, thinking 'oh, that looks like too much,' but when I see other people's images that I like the PP'ing, I realize that there's way more contrast there. And of course when I go back and look at mine, it's hard to stay objective with your own images.

Could you look at these two and tell me which one is 'better' as far as contrast goes? Probably not the best image to work with, as the bride's dress was a bit blown out, but it illustrates the point, I think.

270341

270342

The first one is better IMO - following the neckline of the brides dress (and you're right it is the most 'blown out' aspect of the picture) you can actually follow the entire neckline in the first picture but it gets even MORE blown out in the second.

But it is a very subtle difference...


Jen D.

[carpenter]

I like the first one too for the exact reasons that mai_lin posted. Although the suits in the second one have more detail, some masking could correct that.

[gooble]

Looks like you need to bring the luminosity down in the second.

I like the first better.

[Damo77]

I am a huge fan of contrast - I push my images to the limit wherever possible. So I use Levels, and keep a very close eye on the histogram, to make sure I don't blow out highlights or fill in shadows.

(CS3 has a histogram in Curves, of course, so I tend to use Curves instead of Levels when I'm in CS3.)

[mattograph]

+1 for the first one.

[Chris71]

Another vote for the first one.

[JenniferLShort]

I like no. one personally. The shot is really nice.

[poloman]

much more detail in the bride's dress in the first one.

[cdifoto]

I don't see enough difference for it to matter. Looking at the subtle variances made my eyes burn.

[René Damkot]

White's better in #1, blacks better in #2.
Subtle difference though.