Post Processing Challenge Saturday 15th July 2017

Another weekly challenge.

Remember there are no rules you can do what you wish in your interpretation, but if you can give information of the steps taken and software used to add interest. It is not meant as a competition just a bit of fun.

LR for shadows, highlights, etc. Cropped to square format. Added tonal contrast in Color Efex Pro 4.

Initially, I used Define 2 (NIK bundle) to scan for noise; having found some, I used its preset reduction level. In Color Efex, I then went to the pro contrast filter. After eliminating all but 35% of a color cast, I corrected the as-shot contrast by 20% and added "dynamic contrast" by 10%. After thinking for quite a while, I decided to utilize HDR Efex Pro2's "balanced" preset. Using its tonality menu, I decreased contrast by 7% and increased structure by 20%. Finally I used the sharpen tool in PSE15 to sharpen the area of shadows and to sharpen the buildings above.

Untitled by Ron Hyde, on Flickr

 

Processed with DxO Optics Pro 11.4.2. Check level of horizon and it needed no adjustment. Selected "ClearView" at +50, used dropper to set WB based on the shadow side of the building at right. Moved Black point up to +19, cropped 5:4, positioning river at bottom left, raise EV +.77, pulled Highlights down -13.

Nice photo, so I thought a black and white treatment would be interesting. I used Adobe Camera Raw, increased contrast, dialed up whites,clarity to 60, a gradient for the sky to darken slightly.

 

I came up with two versions that I like. The first used Topaz simplify with a "colorful" setting.

The second version is black and white using NIK SilverEfex with sepia toning. Both versions are cropped the same, so as to eliminate the row of buildings on the far right..

Went for a softer BW effect

Great participation, with really interesting variety of results.

Thought I'd also try an abstract (of sorts), which resulted from using levels in PSE15, then using Silver Efex to convert to b&w, then a hodgepodge of other steps in Color Efex . . .

Thought I'd also try an abstract (of sorts),...

 

For sure... ;-)