I just picked up PSE 10 when B&H had it for $49. I installed it tonight and spent some time working on a test shot. Here's a before and after post process attempt. How did I do?

Straight out of camera JPG


2012_04_22_4399 by dthrog00, on Flickr

Post processed in PSE 10


2012_04_22_4399_pse10-final crop by dthrog00, on Flickr

Process:

a) Create backup of background image
b) Trace cardinal using quick selection tool and carefully outline the bird, create layer from this via cut (from background copy)
c) Create adjustment layer on cardinal and adjust levels to make red and black colors pop
d) Duplicate the cardinal layer and apply unsharp mask
e) Move background copy to top of layer tree, create adjustment levels layer and slightly adjust background
f) Crop using rule of thirds with the bottom left quadrant in the cardinal's chest and save to a JPG format

final layer tree is:

adjustment layer levels on background copy
background copy
adjustment layer level on cardinal
sharpened cardinal
cardinal
background

Any tips?

Thanks
Dave