Fix It Friday #91

At the I Heart Faces Community everyone is given an image to edit.  By the time I get around to doing it many, many others have already posted beautiful edits.  However, in the spirit of learning, I try.

Here is the original (it is only to be used for this challenge and for no other personal reason!):

It is amazing what a smaller crop can do.  I am really impressed with the crop choices of the other participants.  However, I wanted to do something different--not because I think mine is better (I don't)--but just to see what her face looked like.  It means there isn't enough pixels left for printing, but it is still fine for web viewing.

My first edit--

I really wanted to see what could be done to add color back into her face since it was so washed out.  I did an adjustment level bringing up the mid-tones, up the black, and a little of the white.  It sharpened the colors overall, but did not fix her face.  I did a spot check under her eye to remove a shadow.  Then I added a soft pink color fill, overlay, 60% opacity.  I erased the color fill all around the girl and her eyes.  I think it helped define her a little.

However, she was still pretty washed out and all my other fiddles weren't fixing it.  So since I learned lens flare yesterday I thought I would add one to give me, the viewer, an explanation for the washed out face.

Second Edit:

It warmed the tones up; I think that is what I'm seeing.  But still not the awesome edits I was seeing already posted.  So I went back to before the sun flare and applied PW Vintage just for fun and went back to my real life chores.

Third Edit:

I love what it did to the background, but such a shame to lose all the details of a pretty little girl.  I did not sharpen the last one for the web because THAT would make it even grainier.

Fix It Friday #89

At I heart faces they do a challenge every Friday where they post a photo and then everyone edits it. It is a great way to grow in my understanding of what edits help or hinder a photo and to learn from people who are actually talented. So many places you see a beautiful photo and while I know it started with a talented photographer it is impossible to know how much is SOOC talent and editing talent. I truly think this challenge will help me grow in both skills.

Here is the original photo--it is their photo and only to be used in this challenge.

Here is my first edit:

I used Photoshop Elements 6.
I added a copy of the photo in Screen mode opacity 17%.
I added red to the bricks and blue to the jeans and his eyes by painting on a new layer and then changing the layer to Soft Light mode 100% opacity.
Then the top layer is a copy of the photo Soft Light mode 100% opacity.
I also cropped it down a little more, hopefully making the eyes where you look.

Ummm, I'm going to have to learn the lingo a little better. I really like bright colors and wanted the bricks to stand out even if it detracts from the subject.

But in my second edit, because I got my love of the bricks out of my system, I did things a little differently:

I cropped a bit closer to the subject.
I cloned pieces of the cement and wall to remove the boards.
I did PW 70's action; opacity around 70%. 100% was too washed out for me.
I did a new gradient level, reverse radius, color blue, soft light mode. Then I erased 70% on his face and 30% around his body to bring back the subject.

I enjoyed doing it. Hope you enjoy. If not, well, I learned something! I think.