Trying to follow instructions from the Digital Darkroom link. As usual, I'm stymied by Layers...plus my PSE2 program doesn't have Channel Mixer. Still, it's fun trying to learn some new post-processing techniques.
Sometimes extreme contrast works to good purpose by eliminating most surface detail distractions and exposing only the essentials. It is working well here, but to my eye the remaining bg smudges are a distraction. I think a centered composition with minimal space on the left & right would be clearer and stronger. It's a striking image worth enhancing. -tv