Please critique photo of GF

[CO Mac]

I took this photo of my girlfriend last fall at Niagara Falls. I am planning on giving a copy of it to her parents as a gift. I am not the most experienced with photoshop, but I feel that I have improved significantly. If you would, please tell me what you think of my post processing. Thanks in advance!

Before
http://gallery.me.com/jmnel/100604/IMG_0994/web.jpg?ver=12635657730001

After
http://gallery.me.com/jmnel/100604/ErinNiagaraLeaningTree/web.jpg?ver=12635661210001

[snyderman]

Very nice. Good processing. Other than the 'odd-size' crop, should make a really nice print. Maybe do a couple of crops at 5X7 or 8X10 to see how the image will print?

dave

[caught14]

A great example of post processing that is well done.

[aebrown]

Very good job in the post processing! I would say with the first one here face and everything is underexposed, and blends in with the tree, but you have done a good job with adding contrast to everything, including the background. It really illuminates the picture!

Not sure how I feel about the strong vignette in the upper left corner though, maybe tone it down a little bit (but that might screw with the strong contrast in the opposite points of the image)

[CO Mac]

Very good job in the post processing! I would say with the first one here face and everything is underexposed, and blends in with the tree, but you have done a good job with adding contrast to everything, including the background. It really illuminates the picture!

Not sure how I feel about the strong vignette in the upper left corner though, maybe tone it down a little bit (but that might screw with the strong contrast in the opposite points of the image)

This is exactly why I added the graduated filter on the left side of the picture. I felt that I needed to add it to counteract the contrast in the tree and her. I will try to tone down the filter to see if it helps. Thanks for the advice.