To bleach or not to bleach??? Which edit is best?

[Free]

Hi All,

I've shot my first paid shoot for a local family and thought I'd ask ya'll about the PP of a shot... I'm really digging the whole bleach bypass effect at the moment and find I'm using it probably a bit too much for my own photos.

I'm wondering if you think it works for this photo though. If it makes a difference, the final image will be printed at least 8x10 and framed, it could possibly be put on a large canvas too.

Here's the first edit, blemishes removed, colours tweaked, vignette applied and sharpened... (Excuse the crappy upload, dunno what the forum is doing?)



And the second edit pretty much as about, but instead of sharpened there's a bleach bypass effect applied and softened a little...



What's your honest opinion?

Thanks in advance
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[Indigo November]

I prefer the first, but of course it is up to the person who is paying you. Just show them both to the customer and let him/her choose. Personally I do not like what the bleach effect did to her sweater........

[AlphaBjerke]

I like the second.

[indranil]

I like the first one. 2nd one looks bit overexposed.

[Free]

Thanks

artofindigo - Great idea, I'll do that.

[RobeRt V.]

I like the first one more

[KagoGrl]

I think I like both version, but I find myself leaning towards the first.

[RLucas]

I am favoring the first as well, just because her clothes are too light for BP to work for me, but I do like the effect. I know you are using Gimp, or were talking about switching to it. Is this a script that someone has written ? If so, I want it.

[Free]

Originally Posted by RLucas

I am favoring the first as well, just because her clothes are too light for BP to work for me, but I do like the effect. I know you are using Gimp, or were talking about switching to it. Is this a script that someone has written ? If so, I want it.

Yeah, this was done in Gimp, no scripts for this, or though I'd be happy to try to write one when I get some time. The effect is very simple though...

Do all editing and merge layers desaturate (colours/desaturate) or otherwise black and white the top layer and set the layer mode to screen. Adjust the opacity as required and flatten. Sharpen or blur as preferred and you're done.

Cheers
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