Before & After #179

[Lore]

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 72hrs 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 & After #180".

This is all about having fun so have at it!!!

This round will end Friday April 24th at 4:30 pm CST

On a Street in Chicago taken last year...
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b178/silentlore/d40/DSC_0007-1.jpg

[brennasg]

Here is my girly, warmer chicago...

played with all the colors in lightroom(H/S/L) took it into cs4 cropped...cloned out a lamp pole.. sharpened..opened up Nik's color efex pro and played with the 'Duplex' Preset..(picked color, blended, contrast) took it back to lightroom and fixed the vignette.
http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/pp320/brennasg/chicago-Edit.jpg

[masterwillems]

Brightness/contrast adjustment
Shadow/highlight adjustment
Entered quickmask, selected with a gradient tool
Added lensblur

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t173/masterwillems/mine-2.jpg

[AngryCorgi]

I turned this into a weird-lighting scene the way only a late afternoon smog-filled sky can. Used a graduated filter to simulate the sun reflecting off the clouds with an orange-ish glow and strong shading from the building on the left (accentuating the lights). Then threw in long-range diffused light (smog-like) in the center down the street and applied a film simulation. It might be a bit strong for some people's liking, but I dig it.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3573/3465546295_4b839d1928_b.jpg

[MJA]

Photomatix:
5 image exposure blend to reduce highlights

PSE6:
straightened horizon
made a copy and used nik solarize filter
adjusted opacity of solarize layer to 20%
selected sky and made gradient based on colors already there
adjusted opacity of gradient layer to 38%
Very slight sharpen

http://www.cornbread.com/~ratta/banda179.jpg

[jayceg]

I didn't want to do too drastic.. just what I'd do if I had taken the picture and just corrected it, not changing it (this time). I first opened it in camera raw (best way to start with jpegs too), adjusted just about everything.. but most importantly the color stauration, luminace and contrast. Then opened it in photoshop, ran a highpass filter (action I have) over it, which basically acts as a non destructive sharpening layer that I change the blending mode to overlay and take the opacity to 30%. Then I corrected some distortion and cropped a little and corrected camera tilt. I burned the sky in (curves layer + layermask) and a little vignette. Revoved some aberations and dust in the sky. Next I adjusted color and saturation and contrast again. then I made a new adjustment layer of black and white with green filter and set the mode to luminocity and the opacity down to something like 35%. lastly, I sharpened a little, cropped to 16x9 and added a black border. And then I realized.. why am I doing this instead of editing some of my photos? hahaha!
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn309/jaycephoto/randoms/DSC_0007-1redo.jpg

[Kendoway]

I never did like Chicago much (and this seems like a good way to get rid of Oprah too – ha!)


Levels, Curves, brightness/contrast - unsharp mask.
Removed the guy in middle and guy on the sidewalk, since they are the only "objects in motion".
Removed the sky, and 2 buildings deep right (needed room for the nuke).
French Polynesian Nuclear test downloaded - levels, curves, despeckle, adjusted.
Nuke re-sized and pasted.
Omni lighting effect added to street layer, and nuke layer.
Sci Fi Geek humor added (on left)
Reduced to 900 wide. Framed.
Color balance.


http://i39.tinypic.com/2i45zn.jpg

[Lore]

sorry for the delay ;) have some stuff going on great edits everyone... gotta say, I'm a gal who is a sucker for add ins :D

This one goes to Kendoway... GREAT job... although... :p I happen to enjoy the city.

[Kendoway]

Thanks Lore - and great edits everyone!

It's funny but after I made my snarky comment of "I never did like Chicago much" I noticed that that your profile says "Chicagoland" and I thought "Doh!" We often post to POTN, without really looking at a person's moniker to the left. All Chicago jabs aside, I lived in Boston for over 11 years, and man did I get SICK of the snow - so that was really the basis of my grump :)

All in good jest of course, and thanks for humoring my preposterous entries. As per your comment in the bunny competition, you and I need to have to Photoshop duel-off someday. I can only imagine the great folly we would have!

I'll post 180 on Saturday morning. Thanks again everyone for the great entries, and thank you Lore!

[Lore]

Thanks Lore - and great edits everyone!

It's funny but after I made my snarky comment of "I never did like Chicago much" I noticed that that your profile says "Chicagoland" and I thought "Doh!" We often post to POTN, without really looking at a person's moniker to the left. All Chicago jabs aside, I lived in Boston for over 11 years, and man did I get SICK of the snow - so that was really the basis of my grump :)

All in good jest of course, and thanks for humoring my preposterous entries. As per your comment in the bunny competition, you and I need to have to Photoshop duel-off someday. I can only imagine the great folly we would have!

I'll post 180 on Saturday morning. Thanks again everyone for the great entries, and thank you Lore!

;) indeed that would be fun.

I've been having alot of fun in the photoshop tennis (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=592345&page=65) thread that I've recently discovered... I'm surprised I dont see you in there :p

[masterwillems]

Nice Kendoway!

When i was scrolling down to see the pictures and i saw yours i could not hold myself launching :P

[Kendoway]

I'm surprised I dont see you in there

LOL - yeah I read that too, but they are simply too fast and furious over there for me. :)

Nice Kendoway!

Thanks Master!

[brennasg]

Good job Kendoway!! I love the crazy boldness of your pics!

[Kendoway]

Before and After #180 (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=7801593#post7801593) is up. Have Fun!

[monty28428]

Congrats Chris!

Nice edits everybody. I tried to do a day -> night conversion but really got hung up on adjusting all the lamps and windows...