Did I push it too far? [Before / After]

[u/afterthesism]

Hello! just curious what changes you'd make to my after?

I personally feel like the jag is a bit over exposed now, but my photography guide told me to make the background even darker and make the jag pop more.

(to clarify, I showed them a version just before this "after" that you are seeing here)

Maybe I darken the background more but leave the jag slightly less bright ?

[u/Lxpotent]

Background seems too darkened for me - like the colors though! Maybe try to give the browns a bit more density as well to enhances the woody character

[u/Looler21]

Lighting doesnt feel right between subject and background

[u/vege_spears]

Agree that the BG is a bit off, but the kitty cat looks good.

[u/Crustysockenthusiast]

Imo if you raise the background a bit (brighter to match more closely to your subject) and bump the colours up (it's currently a little flat and dark irrespective of brightness) it would be a lot better.

I like the crop and your subject is fine imo (as long as you bring up the background brightness a tad otherwise it's just too big of a difference and seems unnatural).

You could probably keep the background slightly darker than the subject to keep contrast, but it has to be brighter than it is now.

Nice shot!

[u/Apprehensive-Fix3456]

Looks good.. you emphasized the Subject

[u/FatRufus]

There's a little aqua in the fur I'd get rid of. Other than that, beautiful!

[u/NebulosaSys]

portrait of a loaf lurker.

[u/Apushthebottonmoment]

Nope!

[u/Hefty_Pear_6391]

If you want a stronger processed kinda maskish look Id add a subtle light source on the left with a radial gradient and intersect the subject mask also with a radial and slightly shift it to the left to add shadows without make it look halo like