Replace or Deactivate?

So, every time I upload a new file I always go through my portfolio and wind up deactivating images that I can't believe I ever thought were good. Usually this is pretty painless, but I recently couldn't bear to part with this guy because I just love his/her(?) expression.

That image was taken 2 years ago with my (then brand new) coolpix 4500 (which I loved!). Found it hopping along the back wall of my house, dropped it on a piece of white cardboard in my basement and snapped a couple of shots in dim lighting. Bleh.

So I thought I'd see if my photoshop skills had improved enough to tweak this old toad into an image I would be willing to upload today. So, granted this is not the best image I've ever taken, but what do you think?

Original (clicking will open the full size original):



Edited (clicking will open the full size edited version):

I love the eyes, but I think you need to look at the shadows near and under the foremost foot of the frog with the brightness turned up. On my monitor I'm seeing a lot of chromatic aberration, as well as a jagged line between the darkest part of the shadow and the lighter part.

Good call. That shadow was pretty noisy and I could improve the foot (I think).

Agree, remove the shaddow at the bottom. And replace trhe old one, I like it

what a cool toad!

That's a lovely, moody shot.

I like the new version, but in lightening the toad, it seems he's become higher contrast, and I liked the softer color transitions of the original better.

The brighter colors look less realistic in a way - or at least they take away that "creature of the shadows" feel for me.

I think it'd be fairly easy to Photoshop him to regain the original feel...