Before & After # 128

[SilverHCIC]

This game is to help those of us who are trying to learn new tricks when it comes to editing.

Here's the breakdown of the game. I will post a picture that I choose, resized to exactly 1024 pixels maximum on the long side. Outside of being resized it has to be unedited...meaning no adjustments to any levels, it has to look like it did as it came out of the camera.

The game will last 48hrs and whoever can produce the best edited image (as judged by me) will be picked and it'll be their turn to post their unedited picture for all of us to take a crack at.

The participants must have their "Image Editing OK" turned on and they must provide at least a simple breakdown of how they edited the image, some entrants are a little vague on this point, please give us all details so we can learn and share tips. For instance if you use the unsharp mask tool or Smart Sharpen, provide us with the adjustments you used so others can try them out.

You can post multiple images, but the first image you post will be the one that is judged - all other images will be considered for knowledge and tip use only.

Also, please keep all comments, be they positive or negative, to yourself until after the game has ended.

If you happen to be the winner of the game please start the next one with the title of the game and the following number. For example…the next game should read "Before and After #129".

This is all about having fun so have at it!!!
Any edit, over-the-top creative or subtle, is encouraged!

This game will end on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 8:00pm (PST)

For this challenge, you can either use the middle image alone, or you can use all three (-2ev, 0, +2ev). This image is a picture of an elevated train trestle along the beach just south of Santa Barbara, CA.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/3021286482_ba71d67823_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3021/3020455561_e6da79be5a_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/3021287384_1ed2d53a76_o.jpg

[suzyb]

I started by running this through photomatix - really because I had never done it before.

Then I decided to play with the lines of the trestle.
So the only other thing I did was copy parts of the photo to new layers and move them around.
Rotated 90 degrees.
Added border.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/3022786458_c13dc18615_o.jpg

[frenchfx]

Converted to b\w and added sepia tone
Dodge and burn
Cropped out small overhang from bridge
Ran through high pass filter, used at 60%
Used neat image to clean up a bit
Applied the OOB (out of bounds effect) from Panosfx
A bit more cleanup with clone tool

http://frenchfx.smugmug.com/photos/414865149_2tVMt-M.jpg

[monty28428]

Decided to see if my good old linux box at work could handle this one....
cinepaint to convert the three images into a 32 bit hdr tiff file.
qtpfsgui to tonemap the tiff file
gimp for a levels adjustment.

(My monitor is way off here at work so took a best guess on things.. anyway a completely free way to do hdr... )

[speedhop]

Ran in Photomatix
Tonemapped
Saved as TIFF and opened in PS
Adjusted Brightness/Contrast
Selective Sepia Photo Filter
Hue and Saturation
Shadow and Highlight Adjustment
Selective Sharpening
Selective Vignetting

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a263/speedhop23/3020455561_e6da79be5a_oAnd2more_ton.jpg

[SilverHCIC]

suzyb - for a first time using photomatix, you did a nice job. I focused on one individual corner of your image, and you tonemapped the image very well to bring out the detail of the underside of the trestle (previously in shadow), while preserving the rich blue hue of the sky. The mirror images were not what I had expected, but with all of the old iron supports, it certainly created a unique geometrical pattern.

Richard - I loved the old style look you gave this image. The balance between B/W and sepia worked well. Furthermore, the added grain reminded me of old B/W photos I’ve seen of the original construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, where burly iron workers wielded rivet machines and heavy hand tools. Nicely done.

Monty - I was quite surprised to see what you could do with software that is basically free/open source. For those that have gotten to know me a little through B&F, you know that I am still in the dark ages, and like free stuff. ... I’m still working with an old version of PSE 4 that cost me $39 on sale at Costco, so I like free. Your image worked in bringing out the detail in the shadows, but (perhaps due to your monitor?) the color seems a little washed out. Nonetheless, I’m pretty impressed with what you did without reliance upon expensive software.

speedhop - Your approach surprised me as I scrolled down the screen. At first, I thought it was going to be a pure sepia rendition, but as the image continued to scroll into view, I saw the color at the bottom of the picture. I think your initial merge worked well, and I liked the gradation of the sepia.

Since there were only 4 entries this time, I had an opportunity to examine each of them over and over again. While I was actually fascinated with the geometric patterns of suzy’s, I finally gave the nod to speedhop. ... Something about the sepia treatment seemed really pleasing to me.

OK, speedhop, you’re up!!

[monty28428]

Congrats speedhop!!

Great job folks! I really loved what you did Suzy!

[frenchfx]

Congrats speedhop, very nice edit.
Suzy, at first I saw your edit and didn't pay a lot of attention because it strayed so far from the original, then as I spent more time looking at it, and noticed all the geometric patterns, I thought that's pretty cool, I like it.

[speedhop]

Thanks for the compliments! The next one is up and ready to go!

[suzyb]

Thanks, guys - I went for different...but I'm glad it wasn't TOO off the wall! :D

Congrats, speedhop! Nice work!