The Conversation, Ile-Bizard, Quebec, Canada

Fantastic photo! Bravo!

All by the rules, I would consider a contrast increase maybe, maybe not!

Best regards Alex!

PDE

I think the shadows on the boardwalk add an interesting element to the photograph.  Yes, you might experiment with added contrast, but I would be cautious because this is already very appealing.

Thanks for your comments, Tatjana, Pierre and Stephen!

I used the curves for a slight increase in contrast but it appears to me that this takes the focus away from "the conversation" itself...

http://gallery.photo.net/photo/14734753-md.jpg

I think we too often add contrast and/or saturation and/or structure because photographs must "pop."  Perhaps we should be a bit more discriminating and realize that many photographs benefit from degrees or forms of subtlety. 

Thanks for your comment Stephen, and you are absolutely right.

But the fine line between what is perceived as a "nice picture" by the general viewer, what the photographer feels is the "right look", and the memory of the light at the time of shoot, is very hard to manage.

Which is also part of the fun!