Heels

[asnow]

I have no idea how she could walk on those hilly cobble stone steets\sidewalks with high heels. It was a challenge for me with flat shoes.

[Marko]

Well framed - good comp and timing. I like the lines and curves emulated top and bottom. windows add big time. The subject adds to the scene and is well placed.
Feels like it could sing louder though pp-wise.
If it were mine I might try upping the contrast and getting more highlights throughout but especially in the middle half of the frame (the wall).
I'd also probably burn by 25% + all the midtones and highlights behind the black metal in the top 2 centimeters. That way it competes less for my attention so my eye better rests on the tones on the middle.
Hope that may help

[asnow]

Thanks Marko for the suggestions. I've increased the whites and contrast, and darkened the area at the top. Hope this is better.

p.s.

I find it confusing when you use analogue terms when describing suggestions. Not having done film processing and printing I always get it backwards when thinking about Dodge and Burn. My first reaction is to think of it as;
Burn = More Light = Brighter
Dodge = Less Light = Darker
Obviously these backwards so I find I am always having to think about this for a few seconds and reverse it. So for digital I think it would easier to understand if you use "Brighten" or "Darken"

Also I'm not sure how percentages relate to the brightness slider in Lightroom etc. I suppose that 1 stop difference is the same as halving or doubling the light (brightness). With that logic then 25% would be 1/4 stop difference. Am I right, or am I way off in that thinking.

[Marko]

I like this version way better. White of the wall might be 10% too bright to me but that's it.... Please note that every image can be interpreted in many different shades.
As for my clarity, lol - Dodge and burn are standard terms in digital... just one of those things to get used to.
The burn tool was using your hand/cardboard w/a hole in the darkroom and exists in identical usage in photoshop (digital). The icon in PS is a hand making a hole that lets light pass through it. Like sunlight, it burns/darkens.
Just like a sunburn on white legs Dodge tool icon is a wand with a circle that blocks the light. Just part of the history...

As for my recipes...they are like grandma's ; a pinch of this a pinch of that - they are always in regard to the image, not stops or sliders.
just starting points for your consideration.
Cheers

[Iguanasan]

What I find helps is if I think of something burnt to a crisp which makes it black then I know dodge is the other one. :P

In your mind I bet you are thinking burn = flame = bright. Take it to the extreme though and make it burnt or black.

[asnow]

Thanks Iggy for trying to explain it, however this isn't a big deal. Yes, my first thought that comes to my mind is wrong but after I think about it for a few seconds (I think of film that when you overexpose it, it goes black) then I get it right. If this was the only thing I had to worry about ...... then I'd be a lucky guy.