Edit Me Challenge - Three Brothers

This weeks Edit Me Challenge photo is from Belle, a teenage photographer from a family of ten kids!  How fun:)

Now for my edits...

First up is the above image, the one that I submitted to the Edit Me Challenge this week.

I tried using an old Photoshop version to edit this image and I felt like I was all thumbs, bumbling around the new-to-me program.

I know that I used these actions from The Pioneer Woman:

• Define and Sharpen
• Slight Lighten
• B&W Beauty
• PW's B&W

I thought this photo would look awesome in black and white, which is why I fired up the old Photoshop, rather than the more-familiar-to-me Corel Photo-Paint.  I knew that I had the Pioneer Woman's B&W actions I wanted to use in Photoshop.

It was definitely trial and error! 

I liked the empty space on the right side of the photo for the eye to travel to, so I opted not to crop.

Here is the before:

And here is the after:

And now for curiosity's sake on my part, here is my edit of the same image in Corel Photo-Paint. 

First I masked the boys and adjusted the curves level to brighten them up and add a bit of contrast. 

Then I reversed the mask and darkened the background a tad.

Next I added my favorite Mountain effect that gives the photo an overall boost in color and contrast.  Even though I wanted to make this a B&W image, I've read that its best to correct the image in color and then make it B&W for the best contrast and tones.

Next I used a plug-in called Process FX and desaturated the photo some and gave it a faded antique look.

After that I applied a B&W effect to the image.

Before:

After:

Which do you prefer?

Photoshop Edit:

Corel Photo-Paint Edit: