You can do a lot with your lighting after you took the shot!

Image before enhancement:

Image after enhancement:

To do this simply create a layer above your image in Photoshop and set it's blending mode to "Soft Light" Then draw with your brush (big and soft) black or white color spots where you want your shadows and where you want your highlights, use your eraser to revert your changes.

The layer I did on this image looks like this (with opacity set to 75%):


I hope this will help you, if you have any further questions let me know!
If you did an image with this technique I'm ready to give critique if you wish...

I'm not sure if I understand your question right, but the advantage is in the workflow.
If you use 50% gray instead of transparency, you will be slower...

1. black/white/transparent
use "x" to switch black and white use "b" and "e" for brush and eraser.
2. black/white/gray
go pick around in your color palette =)

ok!! let me to try....thks chris!! you really help me fully

Nice one... Thanks!

Thanks for this tip... a very subtle effect.
How did you achieve the colorized affect in the top most shot to start with? I recognize this approach on many images on 1x but have never managed to isolate the process. I would be very grateful if you could point me in the right direction.

Cheers
Kevin

Your before image was already manipulated....

yes?!

Thanks Chris... It was helpful...

I can't see the images, is there something wrong with me or the link of the photos are no more visible?

Strange, I have no problem seeing them

no. your "before" image has clearly been manipulated already.

As others have said, the before image was already edited (heavily). However, I think the point was to demonstrate dodging and burning. There are many ways to do it. I prefer this method:

Layer -> New Layer.
Blending mode to soft light.
Check the "Fill 50% Neutral Gray"
OK.

Soft brush.
Paint black and/or white where you want it.
The end.

You need a good eye to begin with, though. It's literally painting/illustration.

Another method would be to use the doge/burn tools. But, that is destructive editing.

not, if You use them on the 50% gray Layer with soft light blending...

or if you use them on a duplicate layer and adjust the opacity to taste. . .