First attempt at retouching... thoughts and comments welcome.

[indigobox]

Hello people of the forum,

Just wondering if I can get some opinions / critique on some editing I have kicked out over the past few days on a recent shoot I did. I was experimenting with some Bowens Esprit flash heads outside, and these are the results.

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On the left is the before, and on the right is the after.

1.
http://indigobox.net/shoots/15072009/edits/IMG_0079.jpg

2.
http://indigobox.net/shoots/15072009/edits/IMG_0016.jpg

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Thanks for taking the time to look at this post and hopefully hitting me with some comments.
Cheers
Cj.

[m33p33]

1. I like the Comp./pose. I would have popped the top button. The PP is just the tiniest bit overdone to the point that it appears he wearing a bit of makeup.
It sucks for the ladies, but men are allowed to have wrinkles in their forehead.

2. I like your conversion and the angle works for me. a little more contrast in the face wouldn't hurt here.

[indigobox]

m33p33,
Thanks for the comments.

1. He was wearing make up. I had a make up artist on the shoot. However, maybe I adjusted it too much however.

2. Contrast boost. Seems reasonable.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Cj.

[Robert_Lay]

In the first set the processing has taken a giant step backwards - the "before" version is by far the better. Specifically, his face is too light and the highlights in his shirt are blown out.

Conversely, with the second set, the pp has recovered detail that was lost in the shadows (at the expense of the sky tone). With an additional level of sophistication, the sky could have been preserved while the subject was lightened.

[Lightworks Imaging]

PP in the first image, made any detail disappear, and makes the good lighting in the original look totally flat.

The second image needs lighting work.

Personally, I never like to get an image to the point where it needs EXTENSIVE lighting help in post.

[indigobox]

Thank you both for your comments.