Eyes are tough. Any Eye pro's out there?

[Sasha Norris McAllister]

I'm nearly brand new to photoshop (started yesterday). I've spent about the last 12 hours watching tutorials and practicing with this picture, but their eyes are giving me the toughest time! I think the shapes and angles are off, and the lighting? I dont know, they look like they are dazed or something, when I want them to have piercing eyes. Anyone have any tips and/or wanna take a stab at it?

Here is the before and after of what i've done so far:

 

[colleague]

I would sharpen the eyes with unsharp mask
lighten up some parts by drawing with a white brush on a new layer with blendingmode "soft light"
add some color by drawing with an orange brush on a new layer with blendingmode "color"
and end with a little dodge and burn

 

[Sasha Norris McAllister]

I would sharpen the eyes with unsharp mask
lighten up some parts by drawing with a white brush on a new layer with blendingmode "soft light"
add some color by drawing with an orange brush on a new layer with blendingmode "color"
and end with a little dodge and burn

I like what you've done, and maybe I should have specified, but the top picture was the before picture. :S

 

[Paul]

Closing this as another thread already as this subject within it, please use other thread to continue with this subject.

I've duplicated the above posts in the original thread https://www.photoshopgurus.com/foru...395-how-much-prettier-can-i-make-picture.html