Disclaimer - This is NOT my image. It belongs to jude McConkey http://www.lostinfocus.org/?page_id=15 jude posted this on a blog and I thought it would make a good example for what I call "cropping with light" (with jude's consent). Cropping with light attempts to focus the viewer's attention on the main subject of an image without physically cropping the image and thus removing the subject's supporting context.

How was this done? - it's black magic! No, not really, but you knew I was kidding. Before revealing my "secrets" here are a few notes on my overall image processing workflow.
*First* - I don't use PS. I shoot RAW (Nikon) and process all of my images with Capture NX. 95% of my images are 100% finished at this point (normally just tonal, color, sharpening adjustments in that order). NOTE WELL - NX is *not just* for RAW conversion & NX is *not just* for Nikon images. For this image I started with a jpeg from jude's Canon.
*Second* - If I want to do multiple image composites or do work involving complex masks (or *anything* else beyond what NX provides) I use Picture Window Pro - the best all around image processing software designed *exclusively* for photographers bar none IMO. If I want to add special effects - such as the one in this image for which I've coined the phrase "Cropping with Light" I use Nik's Color Efex Pro (CEP) - Nik also being the developer of NX (watch for the upcoming announced release of CEP to run under NX; it currently runs only as a PS plug-in).
*Third* - For printing I use QImage to produce color managed files. I use printer profiles & calibrate my monitor weekly using Pantone's Eye-One Display Two. My printer of choice for my normal 12x18 exhibit prints is Costco (Costco?!?! gasp???, yes, Costco at $2.99 for 12x18 on Fuji Crystal Archive using top notch downloaded profiles from Dry Creek Photo for my local Costco's Noritsu 3111).
*Fourth* - (Actually first in terms of chronological sequence) I use ACDSee for downloading, screening & previewing. I used to use it also for archiving but became unhappy with its performance here - especially the database. Enter IMatch for all of my archiving, cataloging, searching & retrieving needs. Can you find any image of yours - out of tens of thousands - in a minute? No? You may need IMatch - or you may not care ;>}