Post Processing Challenge #496 - CLOSED - Winner Announced!

[betamax]

I only have a few photos at my disposal at the moment as I'm living in the city during the week (and my photography computer is back at home). This is the best I found. Hopefully it works well for the challenge.

Challenge ends on Friday night (Sydney time) and I'll announce the winner sometime on Saturday.

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Photos are on OneDrive here: https://1drv.ms/u/s!Av3t3-eGT_5xlCvAY0ihUrWI801r?e=yshIFs


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.

 

[AussiePhil]

Some rough seas there, don't know the exact beach but i picked Kiama before reading the words on the lifeguard hut
Removed a number of to me distracting items, cropped to 16:9 got has much detail out of the white wash as i could and then got the sand the colour close to what i think it would be.

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[relic]

Used .ORF file, minimal editing in DXO PL2, further minimal editing in Elements and ON1 Effects plug-in, a very slight color modification in Nik Color Efex.

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[Robert Davidson]

Stormy day. Processed in ACR and Photoshop - adjusted WB. level and flipped the seagull horizontally.

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[Dinobe]

Processed in DT: white balance, crop, lens correction, split toning (teal-orange like), increased sharpness, various instances of equalize module used: to increase sharpness, clarity on clouds, bloom effect, local adjustments on the waves...

I left the bird in. I love how he walks away from the scene 'Heck, I'm outa here, way too stormy'

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[RichardC]

Entry 1

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Nice image.

Bottom section copied, moved up and blended in to keep bird in shot when cropping to 16:9

Highlights/shadows/black point white point adjusted.

Double helping of texture added to the sea, plus clarity, plus dehaze. Foam then darkened. Foreground lightened.

Reulting image warmed up a bit, then frame added via ON1.

 

[BosseBe]

Used -ORF file in DxO PL2, seemed the Lifeguard shack was leaning over a bit so straightened it, changed the tint a bit, Clearview standard as well as Smart Lightning, otherwise mostly contrast and some Gamma correction, and of course a crop to taste.
First the original colour:

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And a B&W version of that.

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[rpatodia]

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[rpatodia]

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[GregRed]

Denoised and lowered blue luminance on the clouds, adjusted the sand colour, and tried to keep the surf more or less white (allowing a little tint from the sunlight breaking through). Luminar 3.

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[RichardC]

Entry 2

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Different crop. Dodged/burnt the sea. Warmed the image a little more.

 

[betamax]

Hi All, about 1/2 day to go!

 

[betamax]

Challenge is now closed. Thanks for everyone that participated in the challenge! As always, all the entries were great, and picking the winner is always difficult.

And yes Phil, that’s Surf Beach at Kiama a few months back on a very stormy day!

However, without further ado:

2nd runner up goes to @Robert Davidson. I liked the idea of flipping the bird around! The contrast too was very similar to that on the day.
1st runner up goes to @RichardC and your first entry. I like the framing. Works really well I thought.
And the winner of this challenge, @GregRed. I liked the contrast of this one even more, and yes, there was a hint of sun on the surf and how you've processed that works well!

Over to you @GregRed!

 

[GregRed]

Thanks, @betamax. I'll post the next challenge by tomorrow.