Hi All, I wouldnt normally ask for help on deciding which version of a picture would be considered the better one to put into my gallery. For a number of reasons, but as the old saying goes there is an exception to every rule, I have found an exception. This is not one of my usual manipulated photographs. It has basically a straight forward style of post work. This photo may have been among the first 10 digital pictures I ever took of myself with the idea of doing some post work and seeing how artistic I could be with digital editing. Turns out it was over exposed because of forcing the flash and having a small quartz desk lamp to close. I never did anything with it because I didnt know what to do or how to do it! This past week, I have been going thru my old photo archives to clear out the useless ones because the large new Nikon7900 images have started eating up a lot of space, lol. Its like pulling teeth to delete any but I managed to clear up several gigs (some were a lot easier to delete than others), lol. Among the saved ones was this one. I kinda liked the image for some reason (maybe because it was a very early one), and I decided to have a go at it now (a year after taking it). Here is where the problem comes in I have two versions (a b&w and a desaturated color). I almost always go with the color choice in any situation but I keep thinking the b&w one is the better of the two in this instance. As it turns out, the image itself, the story behind it, and the title, all say which way to go. In truth, I have decided in my heart that it will be the b&w, but I would be a fool not to seek advice and suggestions from knowledgeable people when it was available. I realize I got both versions on my hard drive regardless of which I post, and that it isnt the only entry I have in an exhibition that will change my future, lol. I am just trying to get an opinion from people who take it seriously. Thanks and btw- I am posting the original @ this thread and both edited versions to follow for comparisons; Obviously all comments are welcome, Lee

Here is the color postworked one.

Here is the b&w postworked one.

Well the b&w one has a little color, lol. Lee

I think I prefer the B&W too!! With the selective coloring yes, definitely! Much more classy IMHO!! ;)

I'll go with Pascalou on this one.

B&W indeed, gives a better and more disirable atmosphere...

No question in my mind.The B/W is way better.But will you do more with it? BTW I'm noooo expert... :)

you won't believe this but i prefer the desaturated color version here. i love your use of selective color in the b/w version, but i feel like the b/w tones are just a bit off here. now it could be me. i'm pretty exhausted and only had a few hours sleep last night. hope u don't mind if i play around with the b/w image. i can't believe i prefer the color version but yeah...i do. i like this image a lot actually. glad you didn't trash this one. i took one of me from the waist down. i have it...just sitting there. thought to myself..."What the hell...felt like maybe it was a silly image, but when i took it, i simply wanted to take it that way. You make me feel like maybe i'm not so silly! but your image is a helluva lot better than mine! Way to go with this one!!!! it's fabulous! :)

dunno if you will like this or not but this is the way i prefer the b/w. i took your color version and converted it to b/w in channel mixer. settings i used: red 40; green 31; blue 33. i also liked it with the red channel bumped down to 35 but since you were going for a more overexposed look... anyway, i didn't have nerves to do the selective color thing. i'm still too sleepy and have to start getting ready for work in a few minutes. anyway...just my 2 cents. :)

Well the jury is still out, sorta, lol. I decided i would try a slightly different edit of the b&w and see if it was different enough to make a difference. If that makes sense? Love the comments, appreciate the effort and time all have so selfessly given and offer this "last" redo for consideration. It is the last one of this attempt, lol. A man's gotta stop somewhere doesn't he? Please tell me "YES"! Thanks all, Lee

Mmmmmh! Nope!!! I definitely prefer ur first B&W version!! I stick to that one! Yep! ;)

Hmm wtf happened to his bellybutton?

I like the b/w version also....either with a little color. The only problem I have with that one is the blue on the suspender is a bit distracting. A little too light maybe. You do some great postwork. Sorry I couldn't be more help. :)

i like the selective coloring better in your final version. now that i see and compare your two b/w versions with selective coloring, i like your final version better. i agree with Damia about the blue in the suspenders being a bit distracting. go with what YOU like though! you gota please yourself first, Lee!!!

Well i guess we have beat this horse to death lol. The verdict is in. I did one final tweak (contrast adjustment) and will go with one of the versions posted here. I suppose i could be coy and say "look for it soon in a gallery near you", but that wouldn't be playing fair in this case i think (but i want to, lol). I appreciate the suggestions and comments and they did influence the final version. I finally let the original "overexposure problem" dictate the end result. I lightened the contrast to let the background add to the overexposure theme. I almost took the color out of the suspenders because i never intended to leave it there in the first place, (it was on a layer i was working with and forgot), but once i saw it, i liked it a little. I think the lighter background subdues the slight distraction it was causing. I sincerly want to thank all who commented and offered assistance. In the end it is of course my choice and almost always I have no ambivalance about that. This was different because this pic is one of the few i have considered submitting that were not "unconventionally" manipulated. I usually have a much less "traditional photographic" style and more of an "artistic photo interpretation" approach, lol. Thanks again and final version is included, Lee

You know...I like this version. I really like the way the jeans look with a little color like that. As for the maniputlation to your photos....you do great stuff with them, but I also like this very much. And of course you are right....as long as you like it, that's what matters most. :)