Road Closed: Selective Coloring

(click photo to enlarge)

I am usually not a huge fan of selective coloring. I have seen more examples of attempts gone bad than well executed finished products involving this process. I was recently viewing the website of a portrait photographer who used selective coloring in several of her works. I think I learned a few things from her portfolio.

1.) Rarely does the manipulation of a poor quality photo result in a great finished product.

2.) When used, post-processing techniques should enhance the subject of the photo, not completely distract from it.

In what appears to be a senior portrait, the photographer converted an underexposed image to black and white, and then selectively colored various items in the photo. None of the items were related to the subject or tied into a theme. In another photo, selective coloring was used to place emphasis on an article of clothing representing a particular college. The photograph looked nice, and the use of post-processing tools was handled well. The image would have made a great promotional photo for a brochure. However, my attention was diverted from the graduating senior (who in my opinion should have been the primary subject) to the college logo.

Above is my attempt. Let me know what your thoughts are on the photo, as well as your feelings about the use of selective coloring and other Photoshop techniques.