Before and After - The Weekly Editing Challenge

Stiga wrote in post #19213016
Trying to get a quart out of a pint pot!

I'd say you squeezed out pretty close to a firkin's worth. Nice.

RDWP wrote in post #19213084
I'd say you squeezed out pretty close to a firkin's worth. Nice.

LOL

But, seriously, which would you choose (resolution-wise)?

Stiga wrote in post #19213045
Well, this sub-thread has been running for a week so it's time top wind up

I appreciated all the images but have chosen Peano' as the winner. It's a really effective night-tine conversion.

Over to you, 'Peano

Thank you! First the obligatory boilerplate text:

****
Rules are simple:

Download the image file from the current week

Contestants will have 7 days to edit the image and post their edited version to the thread (1 entry per week)

The owner of the original image will choose a winner

The winner will copy & paste this post and include a new downloadable image link

The new image must be unedited / SOOC (straight our of camera), full-resolution, and in a RAW format, ie. CR2, DNG, TIF, etc
(Dropbox works well for uploading and linking these large files)

The purpose of this game is to be creative and learn new editing techniques. You must give some insight into exactly how you went about editing the image. For example, increased shadows sliders, reduced highlights, local sharpening, white balance adjustment, specific filters used, tone curve adjustments, etc. Comments and/or questions regarding the edits are encouraged.
****

Link to the new image: https://cp.sync.com …9esdvv8-mscywj75-2ruid874

This is a stitch of three raw images shot with a Canon 30D, saved as an uncompressed tif to preserve maximum image data. No further editing by me, just the default rendition from ACR. This looks rather bland, but the image offers tons of opportunity for creative color work with all those fall leaves. But approach it any way you please. I'm looking forward to seeing your ideas. (I'll post a couple of my edits after the singing and shouting is over.)

These mountains are called the Peaks of Otter, located west of Bedford, VA. Sharp Top on the left, Flat Top on the right. Thomas Jefferson rode his horse to explore them (from his second home, Poplar Forest, outside Lynchburg, VA).

Have some fun!

GIMP Colors>Auto...> White balance (it's a kind of auto levels)
Then Filters>G'MIC-Qt > Continuous Droste

Peano wrote in post #19213157
='Peano;19213157].....​..........

This is a stitch of three raw images shot with a Canon 30D, saved as an uncompressed tif to preserve maximum image data. No further editing by me, just the default rendition from ACR. This looks rather bland, but the image offers tons of opportunity for creative color work with all those fall leaves. But approach it any way you please. I'm looking forward to seeing your ideas. (I'll post a couple of my edits after the singing and shouting is over.)

Please will you post the original RAW files as per challenge rules.

Stiga wrote in post #19215368
Please will you post the original RAW files as per challenge rules.

https://cp.sync.com …ysspynr-j87vqidf-jf34qdpn

Peano wrote in post #19215422
='Peano;19215422]https://cp.sync.com …ysspynr-j87vqidf-jf34qdpn

Thank you

Stiga wrote in post #19213016
Trying to get a quart out of a pint pot!
My traditional method

Hosted photo: posted by Stiga in
./showthread.php?p=192​13016&i=i126280904
forum: Competitions

Using AI Stuff!

Hosted photo: posted by Stiga in
./showthread.php?p=192​13016&i=i167737622
forum: Competitions

Stiga wrote in post #19213098
LOL

But, seriously, which would you choose (resolution-wise)?

Good question as they both look rather good for a crop of those dimensions. So I did some pixel-peeping; some samples below to illustrate. Examples from your first one ("traditional method") on the left; from the second (AI Stuff), on on the right. The first, which is lighter/less contrasty has a good bit more detail in the shadows and other areas where colours provide additional information. The second, with the darker greens / increased contrast does look a bit "sharper" but loses details. And of course resolution isn't just sharpness. So for the overall look, I prefer your Traditional #1 myself.

RDWP wrote in post #19215627
Good question as they both look rather good for a crop of those dimensions. So I did some pixel-peeping; some samples below to illustrate. Examples from your first one ("traditional method") on the left; from the second (AI Stuff), on on the right. The first, which is lighter/less contrasty has a good bit more detail in the shadows and other areas where colours provide additional information. The second, with the darker greens / increased contrast does look a bit "sharper" but looses details. And of course resolution isn't just sharpness. So for the overall look, I prefer your Traditional #1 myself.

Hosted photo: posted by RDWP in
./showthread.php?p=192​15627&i=i236799020
forum: Competitions

Thank you for this helpful analysis.

All imagrd
1. DxO PL4 > Denoise, lens correction >: clarity
2. Stitch with Microsoft ICE
3. Photoshop/ACR > Crop > contrast boost Haze reduction > clarity > resize > sharpen

Not an easy image as the lighting is very direct. Consequently, I have probably push the sliders too far.

Good detail in the good 'ol 30D's 8.2 megapixs. My essay using the original tiff compilation. HDR in Aurora, then to Luminar 4: cleaned up the sky and foreground a bit; adjusted the foreground with colour, shadows, highlights, contrast, exposure sliders). Separate layer for mountains to tweak and bring out more detail. Darkened sky a bit.(Luminar Ai does not have separate/manual layers tool !) Slight L and R crop. Resized in Windows photo.

With GIMP only
(Dino extinction: I wanted to have fun sorry)
It's quite simple to do it all are in the layers below

Thanks to participants. It came down to a photo finish (so to speak) between Stiga and RDWP, but Stiga won by a nose. So the baton passes to Stiga.

(Attached are a couple of versions I did.)

Peano wrote in post #19216511
='Peano;19216511]Thank​s to participants. It came down to a photo finish (so to speak) between Stiga and RDWP, but Stiga won by a nose. So the baton passes to Stiga.

(Attached are a couple of versions I did.)

Hosted photo: posted by 'Peano in
./showthread.php?p=192​16511&i=i179502813
forum: Competitions

^^^^^
This one is better than mine but thanks for the accolade anyway.

I'll see what I can find for the next challenge.

Congrats Martin! Keeping you busy this week.