Great to see you back and posting photos Jan. This is a great idea.

Regarding the critiques of the current two photos. I do like the cropped versions. I also wonder about decreasing the highlights in #1 a little (too much would make it look unnatural). Then I wondering about raising both shadows and overall exposure in #2.

Here are some quick efforts in LR4:


Name: Small-1.jpg Views: 1186 Size: 106.0 KB


Temp -5
Contrast +30
Highlights -40
Clarity -10
Vibrance +10
Saturation +5

Name: Small-2.jpg Views: 1299 Size: 94.6 KB


Exposure +0.3
Contrast -5
Shadows +5
Clarity -10
Vibrance +10
Saturation +5

I am no wizard in post and much of this is eye of the beholder type of stuff. Also, as I've tried to shoot many a niece and nephew being thrown into the air, #2 is a great capture.

BTW...always happy to help and I hope you have a speedy recovery now that they have the correct diagnosis.