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Post by hmca on Jun 24, 2023 1:56:08 GMT
I am excited to introduce to you a RAW image that will surely challenge your skills. Many of us may have come across a scene that overwhelms the eye but begs to be photographed. It is when we begin the editing process that we are faced with challenges similar to our photographer who states: What attracted me was simply the complete riot of color. As I'm editing it I'm struggling to decide what to get the viewer to focus on, is it the pool table, is it the lamp shade or is it the fabric in the ceiling? And is there clutter that it is better to remove? Obviously the 'do not touch' sign on the table is pretty intrusive, but how best to handle the brass intruding on the bottom edge and the other elements around the wall?
1. Participants in the challenge may provide a screenshot of their edits within the RAW converter of their choice along with the reasons for their edits. 2. Following their initial edits members may use whatever “tools" they wish to create an image that portrays their artistic vision for the image as long as the character of the original image is not lost. You may not add anything to the image that wasn’t already there.3. Including information on plug-ins, actions, external editors, textures, sky replacements etc that were used will only help to inform members of some of the creative options that are available to today’s photographer. 4. Including layer stacks may be something to consider when presenting a final edit. Comments are restricted to complimenting another member's edits.
You have until Thursday July 6th to submit your edits. At the end of the challenge the photographer will then choose three favorite renditions. This is a screenshot of the image we will be working on..... 
Link to RAW image. |
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Post by fotofrank on Jun 24, 2023 13:58:24 GMT
Thanks for this Helen. My Final image  My edits started in DXO Camera Raw 3, then into Photoshop. A number of distractions did get removed. I did use a number of local adjustments.  |
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Post by hmca on Jun 24, 2023 16:33:55 GMT
Thanks for getting this started, Frank. It is interesting to see the panels you included as they give a clear insight as to your editing choices.
Great share and a well-managed edit that reveals the details of the room.
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Post by tonyw on Jun 24, 2023 18:57:16 GMT
Definitely a challenging image to work on - I decided to work with this one in Lightroom and tried the new Denoise feature on the original CR2 file as there was quite a lot of noise in the shadows - it seemed to work rather well and created a DNG file that I worked on from there. Decided to crop to focus on the table and lights and cut out some of the extraneous items and then did a white balance adjustment using the Don't Touch card on the table as a gray card - don't know if it was but it seemed to work! From there I made basic adjustments (mostly the ones that Auto resulted in) and then used masking brushes to even up the lighting a bit. Finished up with a fairly severe vignette to focus on the table and lights. Lastly I ran Topaz Sharpen AI to add a little sharpening. Did think about removing the Don't Touch sign on the table but will leave that for another try as it would leave a rather big vacant space. 
Tony |
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Post by tonyw on Jun 24, 2023 19:46:46 GMT
Just to compare here's what Generative Fill in Adobe Firefly did with the Don't Touch sign. Interestingly I had to include the shadow in my selection or it created a weird object like a candlestick to replace the sign.  I think I prefer the sign to the empty space - now if I could tell Firefly to replace the sign with a cue then that might look good! Tony |
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Post by tourerjim on Jun 24, 2023 20:27:08 GMT
I thought I'd give it soft cosy appearance also like like green pool tables.   |
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Post by hmca on Jun 24, 2023 20:46:27 GMT
tonyw....I like your idea to crop to focus on the table. I think your editing choices brought out the light shining on it from above. Interesting to see how Generative Fill did with the sign. I wonder how it would do with the brass bar and the lamp on the right....leaving the gold chair in the background. tourerjim....interesting idea to keep it cosy. I've only ever seen green pool tables so understand why you chose to change the color.
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Post by hmca on Jun 24, 2023 20:58:29 GMT
I began my edit using DXO PR version 1.5. I followed that with opening the dng in Photoshop where I chose the Adobe Vivid Profile. Only minimal adjustments in the RAW panel. Opening in PS I went straight to NIK CE 5. I chose to remove the red color cast and applied dynamic contrast adjusting each slide to half its value. Removed a few distractions. I used the healing brush and cloning to remove the sign. Selected the right side and darkened using levels so as to lessen the distraction....slight crop on that side. I didn't do any noise reduction other than what was done initially by DX RAW. Honestly didn't notice it....but that doesn't mean that it wasn't there.   |
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Post by tonyw on Jun 24, 2023 21:38:30 GMT
I began my edit using DXO PR version 1.5. I followed that with opening the dng in Photoshop where I chose the Adobe Vivid Profile. Only minimal adjustments in the RAW panel. Opening in PS I went straight to NIK CE 5. I chose to remove the red color cast and applied dynamic contrast adjusting each slide to half its value. Removed a few distractions. I used the healing brush and cloning to remove the sign. Selected the right side and darkened using levels so as to lessen the distraction....slight crop on that side. I didn't do any noise reduction other than what was done initially by DX RAW. Honestly didn't notice it....but that doesn't mean that it wasn't there. Nicely done and a good job removing the sign but you also removed the pocket! I was impressed by Firefly knowing about pool tables and putting in a pocket. Tony |
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Post by hmca on Jun 24, 2023 22:31:11 GMT
but you also removed the pocket! I was impressed by Firefly knowing about pool tables and putting in a pocket. Thanks for pointing that out. Firefly obviously knows more than I do about pool! I did try to create a new pocket by using the one opposite....however I think I'll leave it as is as I couldn't come up with something passable. Do like it better without the sign. |
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Post by fotofrank on Jun 24, 2023 23:01:04 GMT
My B&W version - no sign. Conversion done in Silver Effects Pro  |
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Post by hmca on Jun 24, 2023 23:06:45 GMT
Well I never would have thought black and white for this image! BUT I really like how the patterns, darks and lights and what I had thought of as distractions all come together to form a cohesive look. Nice!
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Post by tourerjim on Jun 25, 2023 13:43:43 GMT
What ta pot 😁  |
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Post by Lillias on Jun 25, 2023 14:20:53 GMT
First attempt with ACR Settings applied.  
Second attempt. Cropped the image and took into Topaz Studio > Simplify and applied the Line and Ink IV effect. 
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Post by hmca on Jun 25, 2023 16:43:58 GMT
Always up for a little fun, tourerjim.  Nice basic edit with your first one, Lillias. I was wondering what people might try for an artistic look? The filters you chose have addressed the "business" of the image and toned down the "riot of colors" putting the emphasis on the pool table. |
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