photoshop trickiness: the dooce effect

i'm finally getting around to trying something referred to (by at least a couple people) as the dooce effect, wherein you make your digital photos all glowy and stuff.

check it out.

here's a photo of the band Ari Ari, whom i saw play a great set saturday night. first, here's how i would have done it, with just brightness adjustment:

the photo has that "flash" quality to it, which i kind of dislike but can't really avoid.

now, here's the same photo, using the dooce effect:

i like it. it's a bit darker, but it's ok. i'm still getting the hang of it, but i think it's a far better photo now.

what do you think? be honest now. :)