60 Hour Post Processing Challenge #593 - CLOSED - WINNER ANNOUNCED

[todd]

This contest will end Monday at 12:12 A.M. AZ time

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Shots taken in Peoria Arizona (West Wing). I was on a hiking trail running back to pick daughter up on time from her dance class, so these shots were hastily (and huffily) taken as you will see if you try to line them up. Yet I had fun processing these together in various ways, so maybe some of you are crazy enough to try. Use just one or any combo, however you prefer..

Raw: http://www.mediafire.com/folder/e6at3v3bs9mne/ppc593 (folder at mediafire)
Raw: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/foxf4ydfspvk70q/AAABEbTGuJevTvv2JliXzkxka?dl=0 (folder at dropbox)
Jpeg: http://www.mediafire.com/file/tgf2pa850xeoxl9/file (only one, saved from first file)

The Challenge Master provides an image or images to be "improved" upon by way of post-processing, as well as a closing date for entries.

1. Entrants are to post their entries, visible in this thread, at a resolution of 1000 to 1600 pixels in the longest dimension, prior to the closing date.
2. Each entrant is allowed two entries in the Challenge.
3. At the close of the Challenge, the Challenge Master will select a Winner and Runners-up.
4. The Winner of the challenge is honoured as the Master of the next Challenge

Notes:

• Any/all source images used for the challenge must be the Challenge Master's own images. They are posted solely for the purpose of this Challenge; not to invite critique or criticism nor for other uses. If Entrants post their entries at a photo sharing site, they should credit the owner of the original image.
• "Improve" is a subjective term, and may include many creative ideas, as well as traditional "fixing". The Challenge Master agrees that Entrants may make any changes they deem fit in their entries.
• Entrants are strongly encouraged to share the tools and techniques used for their entries, however this is not a requirement for entry.
• As we all know, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. The Challenge Master is encouraged (but not required) to state the criteria used to decide upon a Winner. While we may not all agree with the result, the Challenge Master's decision is final. Please refrain from posting adverse comment.
• If the Winner is unable to post a new Challenge within five days, the honor passes to the next Runner-up.

 

[betamax]

Beautiful shot. Default merge using LR6 of shots 1,3 and 5.

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[BosseBe]

Downloading the Raw file does not seem to work for me, it points to the JPG and does not allow download of all files!
Could you use something like Dropbox instead?
Mediafire wants me to upgrade to Mediafire Premium for me to be able to download all files.
(I have never used Mediafire so I don't know what is going on.)

 

[Robert Davidson]

Used all raw files in Aurora and some Photoshop touchups.
#1.

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[todd]

Downloading the Raw file does not seem to work for me, it points to the JPG and does not allow download of all files!
Could you use something like Dropbox instead?
Mediafire wants me to upgrade to Mediafire Premium for me to be able to download all files.
(I have never used Mediafire so I don't know what is going on.)

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/foxf4ydfspvk70q/AAABEbTGuJevTvv2JliXzkxka?dl=0

 

[BosseBe]

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/foxf4ydfspvk70q/AAABEbTGuJevTvv2JliXzkxka?dl=0

Thanks that worked!

 

[relic]

Gorgeous! Edited raw file in DxO PL2 then tweaked in Elements, then applied toning in DxO FilmPack 5. I think I got carried away, but thought that the image could take it-- maybe. [I used file 30 as I'd not noticed that there were other files But in any case I have never had luck with trying to combine multiple files.]

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[BosseBe]

Used all the Raw files to create a HDR in Aurora HDR 2018 (got it for free, so why not use such a capable tool!), then some adjustments in DxO PL3.
Entry #1:

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[BosseBe]

I like B&W if anyone wonders, so here is a B&W version from the above (All done in DxO PL3).
Entry #2:

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[BosseBe]

A warning about Aurora HDR 2018 and DxO PL3, only have one of the programs open at a time!
There seems to be issues otherwise.

 

[Hendrik]

I ran into the same problem as Bo with Mediafire but slogged through by downloading file one at a time.

I used 33 and 34, processed independently in Adobe Camera Raw and opened in Photoshop as two smart objects consolidated into one file. After not very much work, I duplicated each layer and rasterized them. Then aligned them. Mask on 34 (land). The sky is an amalgam of 33 and 34. I dragged that down a pixel or three to mitigate a strong halo at the horizon left from bringing up the shadows on 34. Finally, an overlay layer for brushing in exposure tweaks.

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[WhidbeyLVR]

Entry #1

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Used single raw file (#33, 0 EV adjustment) through DxO PL3 with some local contrast tweaks in Gimp and Nik tools.

 

[BosseBe]

View attachment 847805

Used single raw file (#33, 0 EV adjustment) through DxO PL3 with some local contrast tweaks in Gimp and Nik tools.

Works great!

I have noticed that many of the pictures we get to play on that has exposure bracketing just don't need it! (IMHO!)
Just use the one in the middle, with as little blown blacks and highlights as possible and you can get a result that is very similar to a HDR.
Of course if the blacks and highlights are blown on the picture at the same time a HDR can solve the problem.
But I tend to think that our sensors have enough dynamic range so we rarely need to do exposure bracket.
Sure if you have the sun in the picture and want it not to be blown out, then exposure bracketing is the only way.

I am also very grateful for the opportunity to work on bracketed pictures, as I tend to not take them!
I am still trying to learn PP'ing, so to be able to work on different pictures is wonderful!

 

[WhidbeyLVR]

Works great!

I have noticed that many of the pictures we get to play on that has exposure bracketing just don't need it! (IMHO!)
Just use the one in the middle, with as little blown blacks and highlights as possible and you can get a result that is very similar to a HDR.
Of course if the blacks and highlights are blown on the picture at the same time a HDR can solve the problem.
But I tend to think that our sensors have enough dynamic range so we rarely need to do exposure bracket.
Sure if you have the sun in the picture and want it not to be blown out, then exposure bracketing is the only way.

I am also very grateful for the opportunity to work on bracketed pictures, as I tend to not take them!
I am still trying to learn PP'ing, so to be able to work on different pictures is wonderful!

Even if the middle exposure is within range, the extra exposures can be very helpful in:

1. reducing noise in lifted shadows
2. determining proper (more saturated) color in brightest highlights
3. extendiing the dynamic range available and reducing noise for exposure balancing and color tweaks (dodge, burn, curves, local contrast enhancement, saturation, etc.)

That said, you get nearly all the same benefits by exporting raw to 16-bit TIFF and downscaling the image to 1600 pixels wide (35%), which is what I did here. I was merging 8 pixels into 1. But if I was processing for full resolution digital viewing or print, I would have used multiple images.

 

[betamax]

..and #2 - square crop

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[Hendrik]

#2, a little less extreme

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[relic]

Entry #2: I applied Ektachrome film emulation using DxO FilmPack 5. As suggested by @WhidbeyLVR, I exported the file and downsized it as a 16-bit image.

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[rpatodia]

Lovely pic. Just used the brighter shot of the lot for processing in DxO PL2

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[rpatodia]

Entry #2

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[Robert Davidson]

#2.

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