Two versions.
Shot at a family event this weekend, so no re-dos, but that doesnt mean I cant learn!
BW because I like BW and because it also simplifies color temp issues.
Color because, hey, some people prefer color and I really need help with color temp issues!
I think the color is a bit too warm and done by eye. Light stripes were close to but not pure grey (by memory).
Slightly different crops. Do you have a preference?
As Karen (et al) points out, neutral isn't always most pleasing for skin tones, but the first one is working toward that direction. I chose the camera strap for evaluating shadows & highlights. Toning to taste is of course optional and always subjective.
The middle is of course, the B&W, the third is the first one with -4 Hue adding in some tone after the neutralizing effort.
Scott, you have addressed the problem areas in the image. The image seems a little underexposed to my eye so I increased the exposure. I did a quick re-work isolating the background, the girl and her eye using adjustments in LR. I desaturated the background slightly, adjusted WB for the whole image and adjusted WB separately for the young lady and lastly brightened and sharpened the eye. I added clarity and vibrance to the overall image. You might consider cropping a little from the top. Barbara
Maybe crop a little from the top space, a bit more exposure, bump the hue +3 or +4 to reduce the red/magenta, a bit of retouching, liquify to close her mouth a bit and add a hint of smile?
Scott, my $0.02:
- I like the skin tone in your color version, but I don't know her so can't tell whether it's too warm or not (and my monitor is not calibrated...);
- That "thing" in the background under her chin bothers me a little bit;
- The difference in crops is too small for me to notice (either this, or I should get some sleep);
- I prefer the color version (guess this makes me "some people"? );
- I'd like exposure on her to be a bit higher; the background is comparatively too bright.
- Very nice kicker light on her hair.
Thanks to all of you!
Here is my take home.
1. She is underexposed.
2. A bit too red. I think the "actual" was somewhere in between the original and the re-worked color images.
3. Color did need a bit off the top. BW was a better crop.
