Gaussian Blur Overlay and Vignette added -- is it an improvement?

[michellepotter]

Here is the original. (http://gallery.usr-bin-mom.com/main.php?g2_itemId=41401)

I duplicated the layer and made it an overlay, then did a very small gaussian blur and added a vignette. After that her eyes were too dark, so I erased the top layer to let her original eyes show through. (Did this all in GIMP.) Sometimes what I think is an improvement, other people think is too much. What do you think?

http://gallery.usr-bin-mom.com/d/41629-2/2008-03-22-032.jpg

EXIF:
Aperture Value f/5.6
Shutter Speed Value 1/60 sec
Exposure Bias Value 0 EV
Focal Length 39 mm
Flash No Flash

[Badabing]

Could you post the original so that we could compare?

[Major_Small]

I honestly don't think the contrast overlay was necessary, and at this size, can't really even tell there was a blur in there.

If you were following the GIMP tutorial, I was actually just looking at that, and thinking about how I didn't particularly like the results. Personally, I wouldn't touch contrast on this one - If I did play with contrast, it'd be a very slight curve adjustment. Almost not even worth doing. What I usually do is duplicate the layer, blur it just past recognition, and drop opacity. It'll give it a very soft look. I think the vignette adds a nice touch as well.

Here's my take on it:
<img src="http://static.zooomr.com/images/4608157_3c4e0dc624_o.jpg" height="600px">
excuse the sloppy vignette - it's coming up on 24 hours awake at this point.

[michellepotter]

Badabing, the original is linked in the first post. Here it is again. (http://gallery.usr-bin-mom.com/main.php?g2_itemId=41401)

You mean the GIMP tutorial for the vignette? I don't really like it either. I found that doing the vignette directly on an overlay layer made it more subtle. So the question is, if I don't need an overlay, how do I get that very subtle vignette? I tried adding a transparent overlay, but that didn't work. A white one made everything too light, and a black one made everything too dark.

Here I did the contrast overlay, but reduced the opacity to about 45%, then did the vignette. (This time I made the vignette 100% opacity instead of, I think, 60% that I did before.) This way there's less contrast, but I still have the subtle vignette.

http://gallery.usr-bin-mom.com/d/41632-2/2008-03-22-033.jpg

[Alex168]

The gimps tutorial to vignette is really bad if you ask me, use the one here on the blog works great!

I really like that effect placeses the subject in the center and it seems as if she is smellling something bad :P