High Clarity - trial and error - Photoshop

I have been trying out tools to produce High Clarity effects in Photoshop.  I have used sharpen, shadows, black and white filters and blending modes, with varying degrees of success.

The first one using a photo of Rob wasn't very good. Not sure if the natural light hindered it, or if the image just wasn't good enough.  I wasn't very close to the subject and in terms of photoshop, would not use the hide mask for the background again for these kind of portraits.

My second attempt was a photo of Tudur Owen, taken with flash and I was closer to the subject.  I also added an additional black and white layer.

My work in print, in Tudur Owen's biography!

I am stoked!  Following my shoot with Tudur Owen for his comedy agency Laughter Lines (see the post) I received a call from his publishers asking if they could use one of the photographs for his autobiography.  Of course I jumped at the chance, with the help and guidance from the lovely Ian Fox re pricing.

The book is available in all good bookshops in Wales, and on Amazon, where I bought my very own copy!  Tudur's native language is Welsh and as such the book is published in Welsh, but I'm sure it is a ruddy good read, I'll get my cousin to help me with the translation!

Congratulations on the release Tudur and again thank you so much for using my photograph!

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