c & c these, please

from a family reunion recently. i feel that with this handsome youngster, it's almost like cheating! anyhow, this series - which includes the original, a tweak, and a duotone conversion - represents some of my first efforts at several techniques in photoshop. shots are from my 20d with the sigma 70-200. all advice or comments welcome, and thanks in advance!

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I like the crop better with a lot less negative space. Consider shooting in verticl format next time so you don't have to crop so much. Of the second and the third one, I prefer the color version. His eyes are more visibel with catch light and the two straight lines in the background are less distracting in color.

me too, I like the crop better and ditto with Tee Why. The B&W needs to be converted better, it's a tad dark and no contrast. Cute Kid!

Hi group;

I saw some possibilities with this image but none posted did it for me. I'm posting a spot color step mount I hope everyone likes ... especially the maker of the image. I think my rendition gives a feeling of him being on stage.

A suggestion for the maker ... in a similar situation, turn the subject's fave the other way for short lighting. I don't think the broad lighting was as flattering.

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Not feeling that one Craig. Looks kind of spooky

the first thing my girlfriend said was, "dude, that makes him look evil!"

i agree. can you say "exorcist?"

t-why, i agree totally about the chair in the background. i struggled with it, and stopped short of just cloning it out. the crop in the color one helps, but i also blurred it more there. i may try the duotone again with more drastic action. any ideas? btw, your gallery stuff is very nice!

nats, is your comment about "better" just with regard to the contrast and brightness, or about the conversion from color-to-bw option i used? i need help! i'm so ignorant.

thanks, all!

wp.

love the warm golden color of the very first one! Great work

ok, gang, i took what i think i'm being told here and took another pass at the duotone. i didn't start over, just added to what i'd already done. thoughts?

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I actually like this one a little bit better than the color. With the color one I feel like my eyes get pulled to the background too easily and I lose focus of the boy...just my eyes though.