Quote from: Xalanx on February 05, 2009, 17:04

First of all, I don't like the lack of detail in dark areas. I'd rather have something like this:

That looks too overexposed

He should look in the DARK areas, as I said. I don't do full processing for the sake of sharing just like that. A simple hint is more constructive, then he can learn.

looking much better in the darker areas. There seems to be something a little strange about her right arm. Maybe just because I've been staring at it too long, but have you slimmed the top of that arm down or moved it?

it's shot from close, with a semi-wide angle lens, hence the perspective distortion of the arm.

Now you have some unnatural lightened area just under her hair on a forehead....
Try making new layer in PS, change it's mode to soft light, take very soft brush and white color, and paint in that new layer over areas in shadow. When you are done decrease opacity of that layer to achieve natural look.

Look... this image is basically good... it's obvious that you have good eye. We are talking here about some minor, but sometimes important adjustments. You are on a good way.... I really think that

Another one:
Before shadow correction:


After correction:


Am I going a right way?

Here is an another example, but now I am not sure about the isolation. I mean her hair on the top of her head.

Hair is a mess to isolate by dodging. You could just eleminate the small hairs in the separation and follow the main outline.

hair looks better but you have a shadow on her face from her glasses