Which portrait treatment looks better? Soft high key or contrasty sharper version?

The first photo I made today occurred while experimenting with ways to to develop a grainy, high-contrast look in portraits.

My experiments didn't work so well, mainly because the photo I was initially working with had little contrast. It was really just a selfie snapshot.

Then I chose a nice clean self-portrait taken using a tripod and real camera. I like how my hair was flowing, and the fact that shadows were evident in the clothing and hair, and even my neck and chin.

I thought dodge and burn, among other techniques would be applicable here, to create a plastic look, and taken to extremes created the high key version shown below. The other technique I enjoyed using was a High Pass filter, selectively applied to the eyes.

Which do you like better?

High key portrait

Sharpened and contrasty portrait

Contrasty gritty photograph effect using techniques found in Calvinize book

A while ago I read the book Calvinize, which includes a video of detail-enriched effects used by photographer Calvin Hollywood.

Since I didn't actually own Photoshop at the time, I couldn't try out the techniques, other than those I could simulate using GIMP or Photoline.

Today I tried a few Calvinize techniques, on a vibrant but slightly soft-edged self portrait. The techniques used were found in the video's chapters 4.3 Amazing Details with Blurring, and 5.2 Dodging and Burning.

Self-portrait before

Self-portrait after Calvinize details added

Highlights are definitely emphasized, and shadows in the shirt are deepened by the techniques. The steps include applying a duplicated, inverted layer which is set to Vivid Light blend mode, and a Surface Blur filter added. The next step I used was to soften the effect and paint it back in using a duplicate layer with Gaussian Blur applied, and a mask set to Overlay mode that allows softening only the harshest newly-defined edges if desired.

Notice the background was prevented from adopting changes by applying a mask early in the process.

Whiter eyes produced in Photoshop

Finally I found an example that I can show you. I was testing my camera's remote control and various tripod setups. Here's the original photo, with a surprised look on my face.

Before brightening eyes

Then using Photoshop CC: The Missing Manual, I used the recommended technique to select the eyes, copy them onto their own adjustment layer with a black mask, change the blend mode to Screen, and finally paint in a brighter iris and area. The result is below.

Now we have brighter eyes and irises

As always, with an adjustment layer, you can decrease the effect by reducing opacity of the eyes-only layer. You've got to admit, my eyes look brighter. Once you've looked at it a while, the original photo really reveals how grey one's eyes can appear without careful photo shoot planning. At least, we can fix it with Photoshop, gently or more drastically.