Curvemeister Forum

Pass 1: Lab.  Set SHN (neutral on sidewalk) and increase L significantly in midtones
Pass 2: HSB.  Make flower red, set green vegetation to 2:30
Pass 3: Lab.  Set skin tone using a skin mask.
Pass 4: HSB.  Increase saturation except for skin (used inverted skin mask).

Jay,
I think step 4 got you in trouble...
Possibly even step 2 It is hard to say...

The trouble with HSB saturation rather than LAB saturation is the control.  Next week we get to the "Man from Mars" technique.  it is a simple K channel trick that CM can handle quite well.  It is unfair to judge your image against that trick but...when you see the assignment and try it out you just might be coming back to this image with a different mindset about saturation.

Instead of using HSB in steps 2 and 4 try it in LAB or RGB and see if you have more control...Better yet.  Try step 2 in CMYK and step 4 in LAB.

Greg