Teen: Split lighting in the evening

[devildogx2]

Hello again.
Here is a shot of my boy.


35mm
f/2.2
iso 200
1/2500 sec

I think the shadow side was too dark for my liking. Used a linear curve and some shadow lifting, but now feel contrast suffers. Will probably go re-shoot with a reflector and haul the whole family too.
I still like his expression. Here is a landscape crop.
20110627-DSC_6376-2 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
All CC and ideas for processing are most welcome.
Thanks

[msinning]

I really like this shot. The one thing that stands out is the tall weed in the left of the frame--my eyes keep getting pulled over to it and away from your son. Otherwise, nice capture.

[zona5101]

try adjusting your black point...that may give you back a little snap...

[TomHarmon]

The thing about putting your subject in direct light during that time of day is that the light will create a lot of drama. If you want softer light, put him in the shade. But I really like the image, with a little more contrast. I wouldn't have changed anything.

[devildogx2]

Thank you all for the help.

With this shot I had the idea to frame him between some grasses, but in the original shot the right grass frond was so blurry and kissed up to the edge, it didn't really seem to be a frame. So I cropped it, but now those left grasses are... just there.

Thanks so much for the tips on the contrast. I went up there to get the evening directional light, but then was second guessing myself as to the shadow/drama it created.
If I could trouble you all for one more look I have included the picture with the original Camera Standard and medium curve defaults restored. Aside from the crop this is close to how it looked from camera, or LR3's interpretation. Is this too dramatic?


Also here is my original edit with the medium contrast curve restored. I also did a separate edit where I increased the blacks. The results for both were so close I didn't bother to upload the other.


So now I'm curious should I have stuck with the original dramatic shadows, or is the edit an improvement?
Thanks for taking the time to critique.

[zona5101]

I like your first edit (the one in the original post0 It has a warmer tone and that slight haze look is "in"...

[devildogx2]

Originally Posted by zona5101

I like your first edit (the one in the original post0 It has a warmer tone and that slight haze look is "in"...

Ah, Ok thanks Zona or Bruce.
I wonder if I lost some of the warmth in one of the intermediate second guessing tweaks. I do think that maybe the lower contrast enhanced my haze. Hey I'm "in" for once.
Thanks again.

[zona5101]

Here is a link to correcting skin tones...but I submit to you not for that purpose but to use the technique to match tones between different edits (or different shots from the same session/lighting).

Correcting Skin Color / Skin Tones in Lightroom | Pixelation Blog

[devildogx2]

Originally Posted by zona5101

Here is a link to correcting skin tones...but I submit to you not for that purpose but to use the technique to match tones between different edits (or different shots from the same session/lighting).

Correcting Skin Color / Skin Tones in Lightroom | Pixelation Blog

Ah, thank you. I'm at work right now, so I will read and soak up the info a little later today.
Thanks a lot.