[soupman]

Today I see both sets!

The original is out of focus (look at the eyes). So when you did the post processing it is worse. I think you improved the skin color but it tends to the yellow side on my monitor. I don't know the effect you were trying for but it sounds like a lot of work and I am not sure the result was worth the effort. I too have experimented and sometimes I think I catch myself an hour into post processing and realizing that I forgot what the original looked like.

Thanks for sharing and keep working at it. Some people make it look easy and I struggle with it at times. It seems to me that the photo has to be right first and then very little PP is needed.