Black & White Cowboy Portraits

These are done in Topaz so not that much work on my part.
Trying to chose one for a camera club competition. I have heard contrast is important with B&W, but the white seems too bright, and thinking it could take away from subject. Yet the other version seems too dark??
Should I go back to drawing board??
Appreciate any feedback.

Karen

post the original

i like the 2nd image most, pops out a lot more

Wish the framing had been better, and it is bright for sure. Maybe a lighter hand on the tonals as well, stops it from looking too sharp.

The second one is better than the first IMO. But the brights are too bright. The original seems washed out to me without enough contrast (which is addressed in the edit). Image also seems a bit soft to me.

stanclark wrote in post #15152230
post the original

I foolishly did not save it. I did 2 exposures in RAW, so I saved the first as PDF, so I could have both in my workspace. Maybe did that wrong.

carlh wrote in post #15153841
i like the 2nd image most, pops out a lot more

Thanks for feedback!

Flo wrote in post #15153857
Wish the framing had been better, and it is bright for sure. Maybe a lighter hand on the tonals as well, stops it from looking too sharp.

I will play with it again in Topaz.
Thanks for feedback. I could have over sharpened?

GorgeShooter wrote in post #15153973
The second one is better than the first IMO. But the brights are too bright. The original seems washed out to me without enough contrast (which is addressed in the edit). Image also seems a bit soft to me.

Thanks for the feedback!

MavRyder wrote in post #15154014
I will play with it again in Topaz.
Thanks for feedback. I could have over sharpened?

It does feel that way with the horse, the cowboy not so much?

Flo wrote in post #15154040
It does feel that way with the horse, the cowboy not so much?

Thank you! for feedback. I will play with it some more.

I think #1 is quite nice, it just needs a bit more light on his face to bring the light levels up to what is on his hand. Easy enough fix in LR.

It would be even better with a looser crop to get more of his hat in.

Titus213 wrote in post #15157521
I think #1 is quite nice, it just needs a bit more light on his face to bring the light levels up to what is on his hand. Easy enough fix in LR.

It would be even better with a looser crop to get more of his hat in.

Thanks for the feedback! I will do that.
Unfortunately I cut the hat off.