what a difference a tweak makes: a brief comment on how we allow ourselves to be seen - or not - in digital self-portrait photography.

1) original

 

2) desaturated

 

3) brighten, darken, soften, sharpen, extend, reduce, blend, tone, and so on ...

 

4) just blow-it the hell out:

completely eliminates freckles, wrinkles, and droopage;

detracts attention from biggish nose, thinner lips, sticky-outty ears;

what's left will simply convey form through benign shapes,

and emphasize "best" features like eyes.

 

a little bigger

Done