Post-Processing Challenge #129

I shot this image with my E-PL2 and a Konica Hexanon 200mm f/3.5 lens. It has so many problems!

I have enlisted my sister Belinda, who shoots with an E-M5, to help judge entries. She has such a great eye for a good photo.

I have simplified the rules for this challenge, mainly to eliminate boilerplate text I thought unnecessary. But note the part about photo size, which may differ from previous challenges.

Simplified Rules for Post-Processing Challenge #129

Entrants may submit at most two images. I will name a winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up after 72 hours. The winner will provide the image for the next challenge within five days. Otherwise, the runner-up takes over.

I will judge each entry by its appearance in this thread, not by clicking through to a larger image. My screen size is 1600 by 1200 pixels.

Challenge #129 ends on Sunday, October 26, at 1900 UTC (3 p.m. ET).

Full-size image files:

http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/129.ORF

http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/129.JPG

 

Winner: Zeus1, black & white
First runner-up: Conrad
Second runner-up: Zeus1, color

You people are a creative bunch! So interesting to see things I never would have thought to try. To me, Zeus1's B&W rendition best evokes the enigmatic aspects of this image: what is she staring at, and why?

After many restarts and many hours over several weeks, this is how I finally processed the image myself some time ago:



I may prefer Zeus1's rendition to my own. His fountain has so much more detail and his image is far less noisy.

What I like about these challenges is that they teach me to persist and try harder when processing an image. Much is possible that's not immediately evident.

Thanks to everyone who submitted an image. Congratulations to Zeus1!

Brian