Too Processed?

[Dustin_Hudson]

Exposure: 1/50 sec at f/14
ISO: 200
Camera: Canon Rebel XSi
Lens: EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Did I go overboard in post? Here are a before and after.

[Austin_HXC]

I like the first one, the "after" I assume.
It just has a creative "pop" to it.

What adjustments did you do to it?

[Dustin_Hudson]

You are correct in your assumption, the first is the "after." Guess I should of said that.

As far as what I did, I did a number of things. First in curves I boosted the contrast, dropped some of the blues out of the mid tonal range, and boosted some of the lower tonal blues. Then I put a slight blur on all, but his face as well sharpening his face. Next, I applied a texture that I found from http://urbandirty.com/ a free texture stock image site. I lowered the opacity on it to around 15-20% I believe. Finally I added a slight monochromatic layer of noise, to give it a older photograph.

[ebeard2802]

I'd go for the first as well. Yeah, you can tell it's heavily processed, but it's creative, and it works for this picture. Frankly, I think the before is a bit boring, but with the creative touch you added, it's nice.

Good work!

[wulf]

Much better for the processing I think. The guy in the cap is much better positioned as the subject of the photo, helped by having his face relatively brighter compared to his arm.

I think the texture helps as well. If anything, I would be tempted to tone down the sharpnening on his face; I don't think it needs such obvious enhancement to work within the context of the rest of the image.

Wulf