Jinx - I can never be sure with the exposure, 'cause I don't know the look you were going for. Blowing the highlights and stopping up the shadows is a valid technique and look. The only reason I said they looked underexposed was because of the lack of detail in the shadows (like the sweater on the 3rd image and the hair in the 1st). Civil war? (goes to take a peek) Holy crap ... I never saw those. Must have been from the 3 weeks I had my head under cover while processing images. :/ Wonder what else I've missed?