Improvement or interpretation?

It is sometimes difficult to construct exactly the kind of composition needed for an exercise but I gave this my best shot so to speak using a previous image from Part 3.

P541 :Original image

The following 'improved' or 'interpretated images were a result of using a lasso tool to assist the adjustment of the image. The idea was to make the gnome stand out more from the background bushes.

P611: Adjusted image- whole figure  (P541 )

For this first adjustment, I lassooed the entire figure of the gnome and then increased the contrast,brightness and colour saturation within the identified area. The result draws the figure out more from the shrubbery -the colour adjustment comes over as a more traditional colouring for these kind of garden ornaments but moves away from what the eye actually sees.

 

P612 Adjusted image - face and beard  ( P541 )

In this version, I focused solely on the gnome's face and beard wanting to reveal more of his features. The lasso tool was used on a magnified image to help accuracy. In the identified area,I lightened the shadow, increased the brightness and contrast. The result is less obvious than in P611 but I feel more comfortable with it as the 'improvement'    seems more innocent that the saturated colours of P611 - colours which move away from the real colours of the figure as seen by the naked eye or through the viewfinder. I reckon this last image is a more legitimate adjustment for these reasons.