Post Processing Challenge #456

[rpatodia]

This picture was taken during my recent trip to Rann of Kutch, the white desert L

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Link to Raw - Dropbox - RP622445.ORF
Link to JPEG - Dropbox - RP622445.JPG

This contest will close Friday 22 March, 2019 at midnight GMT.

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.

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.

Each entrant is allowed two entries in the Challenge.

At the close of the Challenge, the Challenge Master will select a Winner and Runners-up.

The Winner of the challenge is honored 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.

 

[rpatodia]

That's a father putting her daughter on the camel, before people start getting ideas

 

[BosseBe]

Used ORF file in DxO PL2.

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[relic]

A really excellent photo for the challenge. Edited raw file in DXO PL2. "Adjusted" light level and geometry (distortion and level), added ClearView (80%), reduced default lens sharpness by 1, reduced chromatic aberration. In ON1 Effects added small amounts of dynamic contrast and vignetting. In Elements, selected and reduced saturation and brightness of the colorful camel cover (saddle?), and in NIK ColorEfex added warmth since the sun is low on the horizon.

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[BosseBe]

And a B&W, tried for a stark look, so very black, took out a couple of disturbances.

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[Robert Davidson]

Beautiful shot.

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[Rob Rider]

This is a nice challenge.

I opened in lightroom, made a light version and a dark version, then merged in Nik tools HDR to see what would happen.

I looked at the photo and fixed the lens flare only because my eye kept going to the green

I straightened the horizon.

I made a copy and used the multiply blend mode at about 60 percent.

Then I thought it might look better without the man behind looking at his phone.

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[Hendrik]

A wonderful moment.

This time three smart objects (sky, everything else, camel alone). All blended in Photoshop with masks. Cropped slightly.

After porting to jpg, some tidying up around the camel and further work on selective saturation and selective sharpening.

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[relic]

Entry #2: I used NIK Color Efex to make it warmer than entry #1. I should have removed the guy with the cell phone, but since I didn't notice him to begin with, I thought I'd leave him in.

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[WhidbeyLVR]

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Most of the exposure work was from the raw file in DxO PL2, then a bit of clean-up in Gimp:

• Pimped out the sky.
• Tried to thread the needle on keeping a strong silhouette while recovering some shadow detail
  (but the camel wouldn't fit through the eye of the needle).
  
• Eliminated the far guy behind the camel (he is now only a shadow of his former self ).
• Added some negative space to the right side to change up the composition.

 

[Robert Davidson]

My #2 entry - tighter crop and 16x9 ratio. Sorry Rob Rider, I've pinched your idea of removing the man behind on the phone.

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[Jay_M]

Very cool image

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[Rob Rider]

My #2 entry - tighter crop and 16x9 ratio. Sorry Rob Rider, I've pinched your idea of removing the man behind on the phone.
View attachment 728344

That's OK I noticed that Bosse Be also had that idea and posted before me although I had not seen his post!

 

[Rob Rider]

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Here is number 2
I used Topaz studio and the Impression paint program.
I also used a white vignette as it was getting a little tunnel like.
This is to show the white desert.

 

[rpatodia]

Wow, so many entries keep them coming

 

[AussiePhil]

OK haven't had an entry for a while
Opened in ACR and initially darkened to create mostly a silhouette then a grad filter applied to the add some blue to the sky, a grad filter from the bottom to lighten the foreground . then into PS2019 to straighten,crop and clone a couple of to me distracting elements out .. i'm not the greatest cloner though.

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[rpatodia]

Contest closed. Results will be announced in 24 hours

 

[rpatodia]

Winner - WhidbeyLVR, I would have liked slightly more exposure in the shadow areas
1st runner up - Rob Rider, 1st entry

All yours WhidbeyLVR to post next challenge

 

[WhidbeyLVR]

Winner - WhidbeyLVR, I would have liked slightly more exposure in the shadow areas
1st runner up - Rob Rider, 1st entry

All yours WhidbeyLVR to post next challenge

Thank you, Ramesh. Nice challenge with interesting entries!

I will try to get the next challenge posted tomorrow evening.

 

[WhidbeyLVR]

I will try to get the next challenge posted tomorrow evening.

Sorry. I have a sudden computer problem (hard disk failing) and I am not currently able to host the next challenge. I am hoping @Rob Rider can take over for me. Thanks.