Lovely!

Much more aesthetic Bill thumbs up!

Yes, I agree with Ronnie. Thumbs up my friend!

Most of what you cropped out was soft edge effect - you've lost very little. Yes, this works better. But I have to mention the spot sepia toning around her face et al looks like print deterioration. As an experiment, if you can return to the cyber original, try reducing overall brightness first. Then use spot lightening brush (2 head diameters, hardness about 20%), and center it on her head. If the low plant behind her pales, that would be to the good.

Not bad, but I prefer the original, which was unconfined, displaying the full length body of the pretty young lady. Cool textures on the palm tree trunks, though.

I like the two versions, maybe should do a third one and make a triptych. Very pretty photo and girl, good feeling.

Good work mate. Makes me hum "The Girl from Ipanema" for some reason!!!!!!!!

I much prefer it!

I like both versions and was a dramatic capture however presented

Splitting hairs with my thoughts.. Here you have a lovely Girl, well presented, but have lost much of the where. Having been there, the where is important.. I like the first one the best as it shows the gentle nature of the people and the calm before the storm, so to speak. There was good and bad, the media showed the world the bad, your photo essay shows the human good side. We sometimes forget that side. Thank you for the good. Skipper

I agree with Skipper's comments. Both images have their merits, but there is a certain charm in the first image that somehow seems to be missing here. The softness and partial view of the tree's fronds added to the charm of the young lady, imho.

This is a different picture & it's beautiful in its own right, more intense & the background has a more grainy & diffuse feel. But it isn't 'better' than the first, it's just different. Skipper's comments are truly poignant, and I'm very grateful for them; as the first really was about the where and the when ('the calm before the storm', which is what several people I know have said about those years before the war began to rage). The 2 pics really are 2 different pics; and with this, you've entered a new world. You could probably get more, if you wanted to work with it. I wonder if you feel, when working on these pictures, like you're communing with the people themselves...almost saying to that young woman: "I will make you much clearer now, for the world..." When my uncle looked through his pics of WWII (he was a Ranger and was at Anzio), he goes into a different world and seems to be speaking with them, and we (rightfully) fade out of his thoughts until he returns...Thanks for posting this. Another part of the journey, many years later...

a wonderful photograph!

I really like your experimenting with postwork, Bill. It's another step ahead and it's wonderful. I know it takes lots of effort and time and acceptance and rejection but each bit is worth it... well done, Bill! About the picture: it looks different but not worse or better.

Lovely capture...well done..!!!

You did a pretty good job, Bill!

Nice again well done

both versions are beautiful and different ! but I prefer the first one...

I like this actually a little better Bill. More emphasis on the girl and she is beautiful. It is just brought out more in this version.

Well, my friend, I'm going to surprise you, because you know I'm the Crop Queen and think everything should be pared down to essentials! But ... I like the other one better. There IS something essential (to me) about the other view, and it's not just the lovely pw. The graceful way she's standing says a lot about her, about how comfortable she is, and in this more cropped version that information is lost. I'll be interested to hear what YOU think of your experiments with this pic, from the first to the second to the third. :)

A great photo!

I like the first one better; it has that dreamy quality to it; and it shows more of what's around her. But they're both good, as Mark said, they're different and there's nothing wrong with that.

This must have been one of the best commented on uploads I have seen in a very long time and that is very exciting! It also proves that sometimes there is no such thing as a "wrong" composition, rather a successful pic and it shines through in both. I prefer this one, but may have been of a different opinion if the pic was about soldiers, where I would like more environment included. This one brings out the innocent lady, almost hidden from behind the trunk, much better. Excellent work Bill, keep up your good work.

My friend, you have a stunning, if by chance, photograph!! Either way. Go with drace68 and his advise and lets see the 'final piece in all her glory!! Perfection. If only this girl knew.....if she still lives! Such were the times.... Gonna put it in Faves again! Brilliant, mate! Rob.

This one ! Definitely ! I usualy think that the balance of the different details is very important !

I like this a lot. Makes her warm and friendly. She was beautiful all along. ;)