Darkroom Challenge Digital Darkroom Derby #146 - Winners Announced

[RichardC]

Start Date

Sep 1, 2023

End Date

Sep 4, 2023

This is Digital Darkroom Derby #146, a digital image editing/processing challenge.

These challenges are open to everyone. If you have any interest in practicing or improving your image editing and post-processing skills, please feel free to join in!

Please read the rules here. Short version: Host provides the challenge image and selects the winner, who then becomes the next host.

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

This is one of those "I've got a new lens and I need to shoot something (anything) with it" type shots.

RAW and Jpeg files are here:

JPEG - _4020960.jpg

ORF - _4020960.ORF


Let's see what can be done with it

 

[griffljg]

This is Digital Darkroom Derby #146, a digital image editing/processing challenge.

These challenges are open to everyone. If you have any interest in practicing or improving your image editing and post-processing skills, please feel free to join in!

Please read the rules here. Short version: Host provides the challenge image and selects the winner, who then becomes the next host.

View attachment 409313

This is one of those "I've got a new lens and I need to shoot something (anything) with it" type shots.

RAW and Jpeg files are here:

JPEG - _4020960.jpg

ORF - _4020960.ORF


Let's see what can be done with it

This looks like it's going to be fun!

 

[griffljg]

Entry #1:

To correct or not to correct? That is the question. After all, this image was taken using a fisheye lens. It should be distorted. Right?..........

Imported the raw file into Capture One Pro 23. Added a bit of Contrast and Brightness. Then fiddled around a bit with Highlight and Shadow recovery.

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[griffljg]

Entry #2:

Let's go in the other direction......... Full-blown corrections........

First fed the raw file through DxO PureRAW 3, primarily for lens correction and sharpening purposes, before importing the resulting DNG file into Capture One 23. Performed Keystone Correction before playing around with exposure values in much the same way as Entry #1.

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[WhidbeyLVR]

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Processed in DxO PL6. Reduced fisheye correction to near zero. Used local adjustments to apply graduated filters to both top and bottom (to darken and lighten, respectively). Adjusted and enhanced local contrast and color in various ways.

 

[Stiga]

My desktop machine is undergoing a clean install of Windows 11 so I am having to use my laptop for this post. I hate it and I do not have many of my graphiocs tools. So this post is just to keep the numres up!

#1 SNS-HDR > PS/ACR selective highlight/ shadows adjustment

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[RichardC]

Have to say, I looked at the other few pictures from this particular day, and I've been a bit mean posting this one.

 

[BosseBe]

I'll play again!
DxO PL6 and my usual sauce except I un-cropped the picture.

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[BosseBe]

And here is the cropped version.

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[BosseBe]

And of course a B&W one.
Since I now have one picture to many, just disregard the first one, it was just a demo of how mych more there was in the un-cropped picture.

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[Peano]

Not competing (except in the short-story contest): "It was a cloudy, moonlit night. The mall was unbusy, but I smelled trouble, so I carried my trusty .45 under my coat."

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[gecko]

Interesting Challenge. Edited raw file in DxO PL5 (basically for lens distortion and geometric adjustments) then tweaked in Elements.

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[WhidbeyLVR]

entry 2: partial (50%) fisheye correction and a square crop to emphasize the "people space" a little more.

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[kae1]

Entry #1 DXO PL5 then Elements

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[kae1]

Entry #2

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[WhidbeyLVR]

This is one of those "I've got a new lens and I need to shoot something (anything) with it" type shots.

So did you master that lens before you moved away from M43? I don't see a fisheye in your L-mount list. I have to admit I don't use my Bower 7.5mm FE often.

 

[RichardC]

So did you master that lens before you moved away from M43? I don't see a fisheye in your L-mount list. I have to admit I don't use my Bower 7.5mm FE often.

Definitely didn't master it. I had it about a year and found I preferred heavily corrected results rather than 'embracing' the fisheye look and therefore hardly used it. I got more pleasure trying to take decent panos with rectilinear lenses as opposed to squashing everything in in a single shot.

I have a rule - if I don't use something very often it gets sold on so I can try something else. I know I'm a bit of a gear nut, but I pick up my camera and at least one of my lenses practically every single day.

 

[RichardC]

Challenge is now closed. results to follow.

 

[RichardC]

Well - this image has everything. Bad composition, bland subject, pretty awful CA on the uncorrected RAW.

My 123 as follows:

1st - @WhidbeyLVR - entry 2 - I particularly like the crop and the exposure control.
2nd - @kae1 - entry 2 - an impactful BW
3rd - @griffljg - entry 2 - impressive straightening of a very bendy image.

Your turn again Lyle

 

[WhidbeyLVR]

Well - this image has everything. Bad composition, bland subject, pretty awful CA on the uncorrected RAW.

My 123 as follows:

1st - @WhidbeyLVR - entry 2 - I particularly like the crop and the exposure control.
2nd - @kae1 - entry 2 - an impactful BW
3rd - @griffljg - entry 2 - impressive straightening of a very bendy image.

Your turn again Lyle

Thanks, Richard! I thought the image was quite suitable as a challenge image.

I will search for a decent successor and post the next challenge either today or tomorrow.