Thread: Post Processing Challenge #137

M

minibokeh

Guest
Image from Yellowstone, taken with Panasonic GM1 and 35-100mm f/2.8. I have been struggling with this series of pictures to find a "recipe" that I like to do justice to this unbelievably beautiful landscape and its tones and features. Looking forward to see your ideas:

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101667287@N08/15284458384" title="_1030328_DxO by Moritz Berger, on Flickr"> View attachment 396390 "1024" height="769" alt="_1030328_DxO"></a>

Raw file: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=32B730C940D336FF!4618&authkey=!AE18k5pWvV48Ey0&ithint=file,RW2
Full size JPG (created with DXO10, default settings): https://onedrive.live.com/redir?res...authkey=!ACai5xD_iAL70Fs&v=3&ithint=photo,jpg

The Rules:

The Challenger will provide any photo that he/she deems worthy of challenging other members to "improve" by way Post Processing. It must be their own photo, and taken with m4/3 equipment. "Improve" is a subjective term, and includes many creative ideas as well as traditional "fixing". The Challenger agrees that entrants may make any changes they deem fit to post in their entry.

The winner of the previous challenge gets to post the next Challenge and serves as the judge for his/her PP challenge.
For obvious purposes, the judge is disqualified from participating in his/her own PP challenge. Instead, he/she should post a photo to start out the challenge.

***** If the winner fails to post a new challenge within five days, the responsibility passes to the runner-up. *****
At the end of the 72-hours (we don't have to be strict about 72-hours, especially with time differences depending on where you are on the globe), the judge will name a winner, a first runner-up, and a second runner-up.

Entrants:

The Challenger's image is posted for the sole purpose of the PP Challenge; it is not posted to invite Critique or Criticism.
Entries shall be limited to 2 per member for each Challenge.

Entrants to post a BBCode link to the Large size image of their PP edit(s), preferably 1024px x npx, or npx x 1024px, if the original image and/or the PP edit allow for these sizes. Also a click-through to the original sized hosted edit if appropriate (but not a requirement for entry). If you post your entry to a photo-hosting site such as Flickr, Photobucket, or a Gallery, etc., please credit the original photographer to make it clear it is not your photograph; something like "Photo taken by xxxxxx over at Mu-43.com" should suffice.

Entrants are strongly encouraged to post the settings and techniques used for their entry, however this is not a requirement for entry.

As we all know, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. We may not all agree with the chosen winners, but the judges decision is final without adverse comment from the Entrants; the judge is encouraged (but not required) to state what criteria he used to decide on a winner.

To make sure we don't break any Mu-43 rules/regulations, by participating in the PP Challenge you are allowing the judge to re-post your image for the sole purpose of announcing the winners in the thread.

Contest will end 2 Dec 11:59PM EST.


Have fun and good luck!
 
M

minibokeh

Guest
my best try so far, to get you all started:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/101667287@N08/15288187213" title="_1030328_DxO-2 by Moritz Berger, on Flickr"> View attachment 396396 "1024" height="769" alt="_1030328_DxO-2"></a>
 

Brian Beezley

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1030328-1.jpg
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Read the RAW file with RawTherapee. Used Auto Level with 0% clipping but did no other processing. Exported a 16-bit uncompressed TIFF to Image Analyzer. Used its Increase Local Contrast function, which made quite a difference. Finished with minimal sharpening using Limit Sharpen IIR.

I have a feeling that I may have unnaturally exaggerated the contrast, but I'm not sure since I wasn't there. What a beautiful and intriguing scene.

Brian
 

kevinparis

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Gent, Belgium
OK here is my attempt - about 45 minutes in Aperture and Aperture alone. Could probably get there quicker if I tried again

what I did...

1) removed branches with repaiir and cloning tool

2) pumped up saturation and reduced luminace in blue and cyan in the Color panel and brushed this into the sky

3) reduced saturation in the hills - again brushed in effect

4) general tweaks with histogram, Definition and contrast, and increased saturation

5) Applied second adjustment curve with much higher contrast and brushed this in lightly over central waterfall/spray area

6) finally went for a square crop as it gave me a bit of a diagonal in the image

there are a few cloning errors I would correct if I was taking a bit more time, and had something bigger than a 11 in Macbook Air to work on :)

1030328.jpg
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K
 

Zeus1

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Black & White rendition:

p166881810-5.jpg
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Impressionist rendition using Topaz Impression:

p36684663-5.jpg
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svenkarma

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mark evans
On first sight, I didn't like those branches. But now I think the photo looks funny without them.
 

Brian Beezley

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On first sight, I didn't like those branches. But now I think the photo looks funny without them.

I like the image better without the branches. But in situations like this, my inner photojournalist always says, "No! You can't change the reality of the scene." He doesn't seem to object when I alter brightness or contrast, which seem real enough. I don't actually have any software that will remove the branches. If I did, I might send the photojournalist out to chase a hot scoop and then quietly remove them.

Brian
 

Conrad

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Didn't look at the earlier entries and decided to remove the branches as well :wink:.

I got the feeling that the background was in sunlight, but the foreground in the shade of a big cloud. So I decided (in ACR) to split the white balance between foreground (warmer) and background (cooler). The light was flat, so a big bump in contrast and some clarity and saturation. Some burning here and there to balance the visual equilibrium.

1030328_copy.jpg
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Brian Beezley

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10303281.jpg
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Second try. Processed as before, but this time I cropped out the branches. Also cropped the sky and some of the white at the bottom.

Brian
 

AussiePhil

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Two variations on the same direction

ACR
adjust exposure and contrast and add two grad filters
PS
Crop to 16*10, clone out branches, tweak exposure and then apply oil paint

15936190972_ae46643066_b.jpg
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PPC137 photo by minibokeh by aussiephil1960, on Flickr

Extreme effect but to me it suits the rocks
15934880741_ed4791cd76_b.jpg
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PPC137 photo by minibokeh by aussiephil1960, on Flickr
 
M

minibokeh

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Winner is esnift, 2nd entry. Cropping close made the biggest difference for me to give the image some purpose. Thanks to all participants!
 

esnift

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Thanks minibokeh! There is so much detail and information in the mineral formations that the sky seemed like one component too many. Also hue shifted the yellows and greens to get a more uniform color swath across the frame.

I'll do my best to get the next challenge up by this evening.
 

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