Before and After - The Weekly Editing Challenge

Before and After - The Weekly Editing Challenge

Here are 3 "free to use for non commercial purposes" RAW images for your attention

1. A harbour - download link

IMAGE LINK: https://postimages.org​/

download link

IMAGE LINK: https://postimages.org​/

download link

IMAGE LINK: https://postimages.org​/

When I uploaded this image it passed my mind that apart from a very simple edit, it would be difficult to change the awful background. I now know for certain that it is.

PL5 followed by a lot of select and replace.

I was trying to do the same with the background. I used the latest updated NEO to select/mask the people using AI and change the background to greyscale. It did a pretty fair job of selecting, but left some "confused" areas, especially around the mike stands, cords etc. Overall, I think that makes it a difficult one to mask - AI or by hand. Did a fair bit of selective de-focus on the background using the NEO portrait brush tools; then some other portrait adjustments. Next went to Luminar AI to do some touch-up cloning around edges (clone tool still not implemented in NEO). As you can see, not a perfect result, but suspect my skill level + impatience are more to blame. One interesting thing: when I opened the NEO edited image in Luminar AI, AI remembered the masking selected by NEO.

This version in Aurora only - Fixed Dark and then various slider adjustments, and masking brush with exposure.

NEO for this version: sky replacement + reflections for an early morning look. Some selective lightening and colour shifts to yellow.

RDWP wrote in post #19385546
This version in Aurora only - Fixed Dark and then various slider adjustments, and masking brush with exposure.

Hosted photo: posted by RDWP in
./showthread.php?p=193​85546&i=i48273235
forum: Competitions

Like Photomatix v. 3/4 without halos!

RDWP wrote in post #19385548
NEO for this version: sky replacement + reflections for an early morning look. Some selective lightening and colour shifts to yellow.

Hosted photo: posted by RDWP in
./showthread.php?p=193​85548&i=i38394630
forum: Competitions

Much more realistic!

All in PL5 with the portrait finished in Topaz Sharpen AI and Portrait Pro 21.

Processed in the SNS-HDR Pro

Mostly edited in Camera Raw, PS

Workflow for both images
DxO PL5 > SNS-HDR > Photoshop adjustments

In both cases I was aiming for maximum background detail. In '2, I chopped the top off the bollard and patched in a continuous row of shoreline lights

#1

Blurred background in Photoshop and adjusted color, highlights, shadows, etc.

cfdesigns wrote in post #19387400
Blurred background in Photoshop and adjusted color, highlights, shadows, etc.

Hosted photo: posted by cfdesigns in
./showthread.php?p=193​87400&i=i16410744
forum: Competitions

Fine idea and very nice work on it. I had no idea what to do with this image... it's basically a snapshot except that the expressions are completely different and somewhat contradictory.

GlimmerMan wrote in post #19387660
Fine idea and very nice work on it. I had no idea what to do with this image... it's basically a snapshot except that the expressions are completely different and somewhat contradictory.

Thank you, I really did not know what to do with it either other than get minimize the distracting background.