Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

Yes, I'm in love with Photoshop Elements. It's like having my old darkroom at my disposal but with the comfort of sitting in my living room at my computer. Even more is possible in Elements, than what was in the darkroom. Same photo (before and after), of the sculpture, "The Black Angel" (by Daniel Chester French - who also created the famous "Minute Man" in D.C.
The 'Depth of Field' option in Elements (Guided area), can achieve similar results as what I have here, but I chose a slightly different route by first creating a duplicate layer, selecting Gaussian Blur and then 'erasing' the area I wanted to remain sharp. Plus some slight 'dodging' on the deep shadows of the statue. Separates statue from background effectively, don't you think?

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

It does. Nice work.

Sarge69 :thumbup:

MtnMan Loc: ID

I agree.

You could achieve even more pop by sharpening the background layer (using a luminosity blend layer above it) and by darkening the blur layer a bit (with an adjustment layer).

You might also want to darken the lowest foreground gravel and the white wall...particularly to the left...so they don't grab the eye. Could try the burn brush but I don't find it does so well on purish white.

Papa Joe Loc: Midwest U.S.

I'll try that Mtnman, thanks for your input.