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