The instance of post-processing challenge - requesting for tips

[Juggernaut]

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It looks a bit of hyperbole but that's the best result I can have. The toughest part was the sky toning as the sky part had lost majority of the details when the photograph was taken. I tried several possible means as advised by RichardC to expand the tonal bars and then the image became illuminated except for the sky, which turned to be opposite way of clarity. To conformity with the colors of nature (only what I can remember is the rust red of the soil, thus I used it as the baseline), I almost gave up the sky part, just letting it be as the result could be.
Very appreciate the enlightening replies for me to navigate the best result.

 

[Juggernaut]

View attachment 869052


Had another go.

RGB tiff available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/gq358bdvi4cy7n7/P1000527-1.tif?dl=0

PSD available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/iqfg1k79v2lk2s0/P1000527-1.psd?dl=0

Now the scene looks spectacular, especially the bridge does pop up!

 

[RichardC]

Now the scene looks spectacular, especially the bridge does pop up!

There'll be someone along soon enough with an improved version. This is too much fun to ignore

 

[BosseBe]

Just saw this and had a quick go at it in DxO PL4. Default preset, Clearview 100, Contrast, MicroContrast and FineContrast 16.

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[protapic]

Here's my crack at this (could not resist the challenge..).
Initially used DXO Photolab 4 to crop, deep prime, adjust sky temperature slightly, remove what looks like two sensor dust spots
multiple rounds of NIK settings within Color Efex Pro( Tonal Contrast->Pro Contrast->Brilliance/Warnth-> Pro Contrast), and within contrast settins used control points to select areas to receive treatments.
Over to LR 6.14, removed noise from sky, export as jpeg

certainly not "light processing"....

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[WhidbeyLVR]

I finally took some time to play with the raw file, for what it's worth. I think I like @RichardC 's version better.

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[ColinM]

Here's what I would make of it, except that if I was going to submit it as stock I would remove the wires at the top.

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Starting from the RAW file I straightened and set the levels in ACR, darkening the sky 1/2 stop on a gradient. Opened into PS, then Luminar 4 for some Accent AI, then back to ACR as a plugin for a final lighting tweak and a little Dehaze.

It's a pain when you put so much effort into getting to a location and the weather refuses to co-operate. Oh well, nice try!

Colin

 

[Juggernaut]

Here's what I would make of it, except that if I was going to submit it as stock I would remove the wires at the top.

View attachment 869807
​

Starting from the RAW file I straightened and set the levels in ACR, darkening the sky 1/2 stop on a gradient. Opened into PS, then Luminar 4 for some Accent AI, then back to ACR as a plugin for a final lighting tweak and a little Dehaze.

It's a pain when you put so much effort into getting to a location and the weather refuses to co-operate. Oh well, nice try!

Colin

Yeah... I did foresee the weather there could not be in my favor as the area is famous of its local saying: "No sunny sky here can last for more than three days; No flat ground here can be more than three square-meters." But eventually the polluted air was the culprit that I didn't anticipate!

 

[cjoliprsf]

No flat ground here can be more than three square-meters.

Yes, quite amazing to see the steepness of the slopes and that there is some cultivation on these slopes!

 

[Zeus1]

Second attempt. Started in DXO Photolab for "prime" denoising and straighthening. Then over to Camera Raw for 3 luminosity masks n ACR with mainly localized dehazing and contrast adaptations. Lastly a bit of nik Color Efex>ProContrast over the mountains only.

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[Vorchek]

A neat experiment. I produced this version in Zoner Photo Studio X. I didn't do anything with noise, concentrating on colors and detail.

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[Growltiger]

Something a bit more arty:

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[Growltiger]

Something more exciting:

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