Selective processing and prominence

The first image shows a boy lying on a beach. The first image shows the original image as created in camera. I converted the RAW file to JPG without any alterations.

In order to make decrease the prominence of the boy, I flattened the entire image by reducing the contrast, also decreasing highlights and whites and making the shadows and blacks darker. This had the effect of making the entire image very dull and lifeless.

To make the boy more prominent in the image, I increased the contrast and enhanced the highlights and shadows, whites and blacks in the RAW window. Once in Photoshop, I lightened the entire image using a duplicate layer and used the history brush to restore the boy to the original lightness. I used the same brush to create a subtle triangular shadowed area, leading up to the boy. I felt that this would draw the eye towards him.

My second image is of a man lighting candles in a darkened room. The first is the original image.

To decrease the prominence, I darkened the entire image, the decreased the contrast, highlights and shadows.

To increase prominence, I lightened the image in the RAW window but by increasing the contrast, shadows and blacks, I darkened the rest of the image. I increased the highlights and whites to further brighten the man’s face creating more prominence.