72 hour post processing challenge #707 - WINNER ANNOUNCED

[RichardC]

New Street, Birmingham City Centre, looking down towards New Street Station.

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The files can be found here:

JPEG: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6g4ebqrub2eu1b1/_6121247.jpg?dl=0

RAW: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kvujtjbtv91wj1u/_6121247.ORF?dl=0

The Challenge closes at 20:00 GMT on Saturday 23rd October 2021
72-Hour Post-Processing Challenge Rules

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 honour passes to the next Runner-up.

 

[BosseBe]

First file processed in DxO PL5 with FP6!
Entry #1

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[BosseBe]

And the colour version.
Entry #2

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Both pictures are virtually the same processing, the B&W has got the AGFA APX25 B&W profile from Fotopack and a Red filter. Otherwise it is my standard recipe with a touch of Viewpoint to straighten the buildings.

 

[Robert Davidson]

#1.ACR & Photoshop

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[ivanbae07]

bw but a bit tainted... er... tinted. just dt for this...

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[ivanbae07]

trying another rawtherapee...

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[Dinobe]

I feel this image should be black and white....

Processing in DT3.6
Up the exposure, converted to B&W using the RGB color balance module, only giving input on the red channel, lowered the white point to have some detail in the sky, raised the black point to get some details in the buildings. Added contrast using filmic. Dodge and burn on the buildings left and right (burn), dodge on the main street.
Slight crop to remove disturbing edge near the bottom

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[RichardC]

I feel this image should be black and white....

I feel it should be an 8 shot pano. What a pity I never thought of taking the other seven pictures either side

 

[relic]

Nice view. Opened raw file In DxO PL4. Slight change in perspective, added ClearView, some changes in light levels, added a very slight amount of vibrance, saved as tiff. Opened tiff file in Elements, cropped from bottom, sharpened a tad using Topaz Sharpen AI plugin, and added a tad of 'dynamic contrast' (somewhat more in the cloud area) using ON1 Effects plug-in.

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[Rob Rider]

#1

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[Rob Rider]

#2

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[Hendrik]

A scene intriguingly empty of people. Surely it is busier and less clean at other times.

Processing largely accomplished in Adobe Camera Raw by a rather circuitous route. First, a color version rendered as a smart object. New Smart Object via Copy which went back into Adobe Camera Raw for B&W conversion. Some split toning applied in the Grading panel. Crop in PS.

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[Hendrik]

And then...

I decided to pursue a slightly less cheery color version. Canceled the crop in Photoshop and set the B&W layer to Soft Light 50%. Chose another crop, entirely.

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[Kae1]

Entry #1 ACR, Elements, and Topaz DeNoise.

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[Kae1]

Entry #2

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[relic]

Entry #2: Applied Nik Silver Efex ("Oldyellowed2") to entry #1.

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[RichardC]

Competition closes in just under 2 hours

 

[RichardC]

Contest is closed. It's late here. I'll post the winners in the morning.

 

[RichardC]

In normal times, this street would be packed out with shoppers or commuters. But these are not normal times.

A number of shops and businesses have succumbed to the accountants and the bankers. Usually busy areas just uphill from here are cordoned off for redevelopment work. Not a tram in sight (the tracks are up further up the line - I don't know if they're even running at all), and when I shot this, we weren't long out of isolation.

The one thing that is busy is my image. I liked the curve of the rails, but otherwise didn't put much thought into it. A sharp, colourful and contrasty edit rescues things a bit.

Winner: @BosseBe - colour entry
Second: @Robert Davidson
Third: @Rob Rider - colour entry

Please accept my sincere condolences Bo. It's your turn again.

 

[BosseBe]

D**n! I did it again.
But thanks for the win and condolences @RichardC!
Those rails are really good leading lines!

PPC708 is now up. Hope you will enjoy it!