Happy New Year Connie. I liked your original shot of this cute little doll. I feel like a soft, airy feeling was more suitable for the dreamy expression and pose as she appears to be day dreaming. So I made some edits to take your image in that direction as food for thought.

I took the original into Lightroom and reduced the highlights and painted in just a touch more texture to her right (camera right) sleeve. I also removed the two lines by her elbow and book and close to her hair. Not sure what those were but they drew my eye. Then I took this into Topaz Studio 2 and used a filter called Lightening Effect that made her kind of glow and added softness overall. I tweaked the opacity of that filter then added the Smudge filter to add a bit more movement and softness to her hair and clothing details. I then added a texture which I tweaked a bit, then removed from her face, hair, arms and sleeves but left on the book and background.

I popped back into Lightroom and used a mask and color mixer to enhance her eyes. Also added a slight dark vignette. This was kind of a quick edit, so not perfect, LOL, but just an idea. I felt this told more of her story. At least the one I saw in my mind, LOL.   Posted: 01/14/2025 16:51:19

Like Denise, I feel the color version is better suited to the subject than B/W. Or maybe it's just the grunge vignette that seems to make the image somber rather than sweet. I think your composition is very nice and the doll's pose is so cute.   Posted: 01/17/2025 21:14:11

Connie, I really like the main photo that you did and presented. I like the vignette, and the blue eyes. You processed it in B&W,but what is giving it the brown color? Is that the color balance filter turned to brown?   Posted: 01/20/2025 21:44:55

Hi Connie, I like the treatment you gave your image and that you let the blue eyes stand out, it gives the image an eerie feel. Perhaps the doll is too cute for the treatment but a good job.
  Posted: 01/22/2025 09:23:50