Post-processing Challenge #483 - Closed - Winner Announced!

[betamax]

This is part of a collection of volcanic rocks known as Cathedral Rocks in Kiama Downs, NSW. The best time to photograph it is of course right on sunrise, but I'm not that keen a photographer so this was taken about an hour after sunrise. There is a jpeg and a DNG raw.

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files available through onedrive -link: https://1drv.ms/u/s!Av3t3-eGT_5xk31xfcS6CYZuyPC6?e=DRX951

This Challenge begins at 10:30pm Tuesday Sydney time, which is 8:30am in N.Y, and 1:30pm London and closes 72 hours later.

72-Hour Post-Processing Challenge Rules

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Each entrant is allowed two entries in the Challenge.
4. At the close of the Challenge, the Challenge Master will select a Winner and Runners-up.
5. 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.

 

[Robert Davidson]

A beautiful shot!

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[rpatodia]

Lovely pic

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[rpatodia]

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[Zeus1]

In PS/ACR corrected horizon, tweaked saturation of sea water, square cropping. Then over to nik Viveza to get more structure in the clouds and increase saturation of the bush on to pof the rock. Exported TIFF to Aurora to make a faux-HDR. Finally a bit of sharpening.

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[relic]

Converted DNG file into tiff with minor editing in DXO PL2, then converted to B&W in Nik Sliver Efex, tweaked a bit more in Elements (mainly increased contrast), very slight "dynamic contrast" using ON1 Effects, cropped from bottom for a more rectangular shape.

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[BosseBe]

Used the DNG file in DxO as usual, but this time I cheated!
I used the HDR - Artistic preset and just added Clearview (50) and then a local adjustment (controlpoint) of Saturation and Vibrance to the top of the cliff in the center.
That's all for the colour one:

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For this B&W one I used the HDR - Black and White preset and added Clearview to it (@75), I think the local adjustment carried over to this B&W:

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[Walter]

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[relic]

I was unhappy with my efforts with a color version, but then @BosseBe in his post gave me the idea of trying "HDR Like" filter in ON1 Effects, and after some further tweaking I was somewhat happy with the (color) result:

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[Robert Davidson]

My 2nd entry

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.

 

[BosseBe]

I was unhappy with my efforts with a color version, but then @BosseBe in his post gave me the idea of trying "HDR Like" filter in ON1 Effects, and after some further tweaking I was somewhat happy with the (color) result:

View attachment 763014

I must admit that I got my idea of using HDR effects from @Zeus1

 

[relic]

I must admit that I got my idea of using HDR effects from @Zeus1

 

[Rob Rider]

#1
This is beautiful yet tricky to adjust. I made a mask to change the sky and cropped to 16x9 to have a little less sky.

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[Rob Rider]

#2
On this one I used an 8x10 crop and a Nik graduated filter in the color efex.

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[Mike_D]

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[todd]

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quick pass in rawtherapee

 

[AussiePhil]

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I wanted to get the ocean colour to what i remember it can be like around Kiama...... I don;t recall seeing that rock formation though

 

[betamax]

I wanted to get the ocean colour to what i remember it can be like around Kiama...... I don;t recall seeing that rock formation though

that’s the view from Jones Beach Phil looking south-east. Most photos I've seen are taken from the other side (right-side off-frame in my image) looking north-east, where everyone shoots out from the sea-cave. But you need to be there at low tide to get access… If there’s another way around (ie, outside of low tide) - possibly from the south side - I haven’t figured it out. ?‍

 

[Walter]

#2
Set the horizon line in "classic" proportion and worked on the sky and water.

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[Zeus1]

Second entry:

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