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Challenge: make my photo better though post processing!

Challenge: make my photo better though post processing! by 张家顺 Dennison Uy.
This image is part of my post processing "challenge" that I posted on a forum and you can find the original posting here. You can find my attempt here.

I am trying to find a way to improve my post processing skills. The aim here is to try to create beautiful photographs from crappy shots. Each photographer has his or her own technique unfortunately it seems that people like to keep these things secret.

You think you have an awesome style / technique? Do you think you can convert something that would normally be thrown away into something that looks interesting. Try applying it on the sample photo. You can use anything tool under the sun, do as heavy an editing job as you want.

It is fine if you want to keep your workflow secret, but it would be nice if you could share how you did it. The goal is to learn from one another

Here's the challenge photo. Untouched, straight out of the camera.

Get the RAW file in NEF or in Full-size JPEG

Let me know if you need it in a different format.

Looking forward to seeing some excellent results. Have fun!!! :) 

Comments

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Not another HDR from JL Photo Sweden  Pro User  says:

I take the challenge! Get back when I have a result! (Whatever that might be!)

J Lennartsson/Sweden
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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张家顺 Dennison Uy says:

Ooh I'm excited! :) looking forward to seeing your treatment! ;)
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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**Ewie**  Pro User  says:

Here's mine.. click on the image to get more info.
Challenge
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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omatix  Pro User  says:

wow, Ewie_NZ. way better than mine!

PS challenge
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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butch leitz  Pro User  says:

well, i went a little mental and over the top I think...

and


frankly I wouldn't use either of these as a presentation, but I wanted to see how far I could push the sky into overtonal super contrast before it broke down (which you can see it starting to do on the sides). The rest just kind of came along with it. i opened up the shadows on the facade in the 2nd one.

fyi i did started with a tonal contrast, then a color contrast, added polarization to bring out the clouds, added a bi-color filter to bring out more blue in the top and a little more earth tone in the lower part, I think I used the shadows filter thingy at the end on a selected area on building. I tried messing with gamma and a few other things but you can only go so far, y know? :-)
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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butch leitz  Pro User  says:

PS EXCELLENT idea!
I was thinking about seeing if there was a whole group that did this kind of a challenge thing... is there? if there's not, anybody interesting in going in on one?
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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张家顺 Dennison Uy says:

the second one looks nice! care to post a bigger version?
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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张家顺 Dennison Uy says:

good attempt!

I'm really loving your treatment :)
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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butch leitz  Pro User  says:

i just horked your size at 72 dpi shown above so I don't have a bigger one! (kind of a hack I guess. part of editing is knowing what the final size will be so you know how clean it has to be. i think if i started with your raw file and did this it would probably be pretty crappy looking in the shadows and I'd have to be more finesse rather than using a big hammer approach like this on a smaller version. you kind of have to beat up a smaller version more to make it pop, in my opinion).

if i did a bigger one, i'd have to charge you! hahaha... thats a big fat joke... :-)
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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Danny Q-DJah  Pro User  says:

Photobucket
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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张家顺 Dennison Uy says:

wow dude ... just wow.
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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张家顺 Dennison Uy says:

I'm interested. I haven't seen any "photoshop me" type of groups so if you're starting one, count me in!
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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Cajunlady50's Images says:

Here is my attempt . What I did to it is listed under the photo.

edit for dennison_uy
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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rawcapture  Pro User  says:

3071700260_360fdc03f8_b
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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__KAREN__  Pro User  says:

Fix my pix www.flickr.com/groups/fixmypic/

i think there's a pimp my pixel's too
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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whatadqr  Pro User  says:

v2
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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Danny Q-DJah  Pro User  says:

Whatadqr!

Nice work. Very well done. Crystal clear.
I like the lightning you've did. Funky & very cool it seems like cinematic studio. Only those trees in a right side. It makes too dark area. imho )


ladycajun2008
Just Great! )
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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Amanda Kae Photography  Pro User  says:

here's mine...click on images to go to descriptions




Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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artfulpurpose  Pro User  says:

Here's my first attempt, a simple duotone conversion and a bit burning and dodging. Plus I cropped out the sign and guy on the right for both versions.

duotone

Chris
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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artfulpurpose  Pro User  says:

Here's my second version, which concentrated on the simple idea of defining the connection and belief that is supposed to be felt by the people in the frame.

Connection

Chris
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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artfulpurpose  Pro User  says:

I love the new sky. Smart, changing what doesn't work for you. Go go. Think I'll go look at your photostream for more.

Chris
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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ramizq1 (busy) says:

My first go at this:

_DSC2096

I divided the image into two parts. a) The earth, b) The sky. And did separate processing on each. Took me about 5 minutes.
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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artfulpurpose  Pro User  says:

I tried to open your version, and was denied permission. Sigh. I wanted a closer look at the dividing line between top & bottom.

Chris
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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ramizq1 (busy) says:

The link to the largest version currently uploaded is:

farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/3073538741_1029c c16bb_o.jpg

I actually haven't "edited" the portion at the dividing line so well. I could remove that "halo" if given more time ^_^ Hope you understand.

What did you think about it initially though?
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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TheLightMan says:

How do i post the images here? Thanks...
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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TheLightMan says:

Photobucket
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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koosh-m says:

heres a quick edit i did :)

mainly consisted of: rotating to get roof line horizontal, splitting the sky from the pic and cloning in some clouds over on the right hand side where the sky was pure blue and doing some contrast and brightness on it, shadow and highlight adjustments on the whole pic, adding some saturation and color boosting of the blue sky again, adjusting levels a bit, a soft orange photo filter and then another little adjustment of brightness and contrast :D hope you's like and any comments are welcomed :D

my photo edit
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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omatix  Pro User  says:

wow, i think it's awesome to see everyone's personal touch added to this photo!
mine blows in comparison... lol.
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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.John Reed. says:

Untitled-1

Good idea. Here's my quick edit.
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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ted1um  Pro User  says:

edited
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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artfulpurpose  Pro User  says:

I thought it had a great sky and nice vibrant colors. The dividing line certainly does draw some attention, through.

Chris
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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ramizq1 (busy) says:

Thanks.

Took up the challenge once again to improve on the photo. This time I used a completely different technique. I used the method described here: (But with your RAW file instead of the JPG one). And then put some finishing touches with photoshop.

www.flickr.com/photos/cleever/255026221/

Here's the picture. To be honest, I think I probably outdid myself with that O_O

FIN

Link to highest resolution version:
farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/3077023854_68b3d 49625_o.jpg
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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Stezzer  Pro User  says:

These are brilliant xD I can't believe how many have had a go with it ~ awesome works ;)))
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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butch leitz  Pro User  says:

I think whatadqr had the right idea by replacing the sky with a better one!
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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Johfil Villanueva says:

my take :D


Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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[ Bret ] Esque  Pro User  says:

3.jpg
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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Arild Heitmann (überfischer)  Pro User  says:

testfinal
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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Michelle Jones UK  Pro User  says:

Photoshop Challenge
I tried to keep it realistic :)
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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www.simonbarrowphotography.co.uk  Pro User  says:

Oh I love to have a go at these types of things...

My go hope you like:

Untitled
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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张家顺 Dennison Uy says:

Hey everyone sorry I haven't been responding. I just got back from the hospital. Was confined there for 3 days :(

I really enjoy seeing everyone's treatments. It just goes to show there are endless possibilities and there are definitely ways to turn something that would otherwise end up in some photographer's trash bin into an interesting piece of art.

Kudos to all who submitted! :)
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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jballesteros  Pro User  says:

globe
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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张家顺 Dennison Uy says:

you took it to an entirely new level! What effect is that?
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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jessicaflavin  Pro User  says:

its great to see how many different styles people have
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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张家顺 Dennison Uy says:

I really like Jim Cim's treatment:


Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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张家顺 Dennison Uy says:

Here's mine


Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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viterbo_lei says:

Fort Pillar!! I miss going to this church. Great photos,Sirs! :D
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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dinno19 says:

Here's mine

Photobucket
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

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solennial says:

planent
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

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ed7929  Pro User  says:

www.flickr.com/photos/21818075@N05/3155923747
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

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bobeyeflickr says:

My Share
dodge and burn

Dodge 2345 times
Burn 35467 times
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

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cyber5 says:

fixed.jpg

Ok - here's basically what I did in about 20 minutes. I selected the sky. I inverted selection. I copied selection to a new layer and used color dodge blend mode on that layer. I then adjusted levels on that layer. I then did some color changes on the layer containing the sky. I used some saturation on the lower part of the pic by adjusting sats and levels on a color by color basis to make the reds and yellows pop just a bit more without getting cartoonish.

Yeah, if you look close - I made some boo boos by not viewing full size while magic wanding. I also did not ever go into a mask mode, so there was some stuff that got adjusted with the sky that should not have. Oops.
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

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张家顺 Dennison Uy says:

cyber5 I must say you probably have the best looking sky of all. Kudos! :)
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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cyber5 says:

Wow, thanks Dennison!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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griffithjune49  Pro User  says:

Thanks for the Challenge pic!!! Five in my stream! This my Fave!
Feel the Drawing!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pop B Albuquerque says:

_DSC2096 copy by Pop B Albuquerque

Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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Milky Toast  Pro User  says:

dark days.
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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Valerie Everett  Pro User  says:

Reformed
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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Experimental Images  Pro User  says:

Image1
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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ammfoto says:

my share

AFTER challenge by ammfoto

Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

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Grayman !  Pro User  says:

Retouched
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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Joseph Brauer says:

I tried hard not to overdo this...
Photobucket
Posted 10 months ago. ( permalink )

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Mike G. K.  Pro User  says:

I like the one from **Ewie** the most.

Here is my version:
Editing challenge
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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Nancy Rose  Pro User  says:

I am so impressed with all these and the variations..I think I like Mike G.K.'s the best...now I want to know how!!!
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

all-those-lies(dot)deviantart(dot)com [deleted] says:

For [http://www.flickr.com/photos/xrenee/35387213 53/] .
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

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