Post-Processing Challenge # 50

**baro-nite** · 10-17-2011, 06:11 PM

I'm delighted to have the privilege of hosting Post-Processing Challenge #50. As usual, the rules are simple:

All entries submitted before the deadline will be considered.
There is no rule #2.

Deadline is end of day, 24 October (GMT).

Once again my challenge to you comes via the SMC Pentax 1:2.8 24mm, i.e., the K 24. Setting: a long-abandoned homestead in Appalachia. Minimally-processed jpeg attached just so you know what you're getting into; full RAW file available until the contest deadline (if that doesn't work, also available here).

The prize? You get to host the next Post-Processing Challenge!

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

Last edited by baro-nite; 10-18-2011 at 06:19 AM. Reason: Added alternate download link

**baro-nite** · 10-18-2011, 06:18 AM

Just realized my personal website is down for a system upgrade.

So I've uploaded the RAW file to the pentaxforums mediafire account:

PPChallenge50.PEF

JeffJS · 10-18-2011, 10:32 AM

Straightened the doorway cropped the photo to center everything. The color processing was done with Topaz Detail, dynamic range equalization.

Good luck everyone.

atupdate · 10-18-2011, 03:52 PM

Tried to make 3 distinct layers to this image and still make the light look natural.

Tim

**baro-nite** · 10-21-2011, 05:27 AM

Tim and Jeff, thanks for the entries. As usual, very fine work, also two distinctly different approaches. And of course both different from how I would have approached it, which is what I love about these challenges. Hoping to see some more entries before the contest closes on the 24th!

ozlizard · 10-23-2011, 06:42 AM

And now for somthing completely different....

ozlizard · 10-23-2011, 06:45 AM

This is a challenging image, no doubt! So we need some creative people to have a go! Don't be shy, you have nothing to lose but your credibility!

**dunerunner** · 10-23-2011, 07:17 AM

A little something in B+W.

**baro-nite** · 10-24-2011, 06:35 AM

Greg, thanks for entry #2 #3 -- a different take on this image indeed!

dunerunner, thanks for rounding this out with a B&W.

4 distinct concepts. Last day for entries -- any more?

**jheu02** · 10-24-2011, 08:04 AM

Here's mine, and I'll agree, it was a little more difficult to work than I expected. Original plan was a B/W conversion, but I wasn't getting quite the results I wanted. So, I switched gears and thought, I would have shot this at a different aperture to isolate the stone detail of the entryway from the rest. So, that's what I attempted using some mask layers to blur the background, first:everything behind the front wall, then everything after the rear wall. I also desaturated just a little and burned in some areas. After saving the jpeg, I realized that some of the mask areas were a little noticeable, but I didn't do an intermediary save, so I can't really go back to do touchups.

**baro-nite** · 10-25-2011, 07:10 AM

And another PP Challenge comes to a close. Thanks to all for your participation.

From JeffJS, perspective correction plus dynamic range and color adjustments to make color the primary compositional element. Highly saturated to be sure, but it works by going far enough to be more painterly than realistic.

From Tim, a similar degree of perspective correction with a tighter crop, then emphasizing rather than flattening the high dynamic range natural to sunlit forest. Emphasizes the light and the texture of the sunlit wall, leading the viewer's eye into the enclosed space. I wouldn't call it naturalistic as to my eye the the contrast is too great for that, but it's a nice gritty effect, especially on the sunlit wall which you have made the subject here. I'd have preferred not blowing out the highlights.

From ozlizard, rotate & tight crop with a high-contrast B&W conversion, for a semi-abstract, "what am I looking at?" image. With this presentation I find the texture of the wall plays interesting optical tricks -- parts of it almost look like water or sky.

From dunerunner, perspective as shot and B&W conversion bringing up the shadows to make this a study in textures. Very nice conversion and contrast adjustment, although the background is a bit washed-out looking.

From John, desaturation and defocus to create a dreamy look, almost tilt/shift. Rather than drawing the eye in as in Tim's rendering, this one puts the viewer "on the threshold". As you point out the masking is a little rough.

Really tough for me to choose a winner here -- I can come up with reasons for picking any of these. I'm giving the nod to Tim/atupdate, for the way his rendering pulls the viewer in.

atupdate · 10-25-2011, 04:14 PM

Originally posted by baro-nite

Really tough for me to choose a winner here -- I can come up with reasons for picking any of these. I'm giving the nod to Tim/atupdate, for the way his rendering pulls the viewer in.

Thanks for the honor of hosting the next challenge. I'll go through my files and post a new challenge early tomorrow.

Tim

ozlizard · 10-26-2011, 03:03 AM

Thanks for the challenge baro-nite, it really was challenging! Well done to Tim and all the entries.

atupdate · 10-26-2011, 05:10 AM

The new challenge is posted here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/16348...ml#post1693383

Tim

10-24-2011, 06:35 AM	#9
baro-nite Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,294 Original Poster	Greg, thanks for entry #2 #3 -- a different take on this image indeed! dunerunner, thanks for rounding this out with a B&W. 4 distinct concepts. Last day for entries -- any more? Last edited by baro-nite; 10-24-2011 at 08:22 AM. Reason: typo

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Post-Processing Challenge #26	slinco	Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories	33	06-09-2010 11:36 AM
Post-Processing PP Challenge #25	TOUGEFC	Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories	18	05-30-2010 01:46 AM
Post-Processing PP Challenge #23	JeffJS	Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories	33	05-07-2010 09:01 PM
Post-Processing PP Challenge #22	Graham V	Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories	16	04-24-2010 06:04 AM
Post-Processing PP Challenge #21	Kryosphinx	Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories	24	04-11-2010 11:24 AM

10-18-2011, 06:18 AM	#2
baro-nite Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,294 Original Poster	Just realized my personal website is down for a system upgrade. So I've uploaded the RAW file to the pentaxforums mediafire account: PPChallenge50.PEF

10-18-2011, 10:32 AM	#3
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Straightened the doorway cropped the photo to center everything. The color processing was done with Topaz Detail, dynamic range equalization. Good luck everyone. Attached Images

10-18-2011, 03:52 PM	#4
atupdate Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dayton, OH Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,724	Tried to make 3 distinct layers to this image and still make the light look natural. Tim

10-21-2011, 05:27 AM	#5
baro-nite Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,294 Original Poster	Tim and Jeff, thanks for the entries. As usual, very fine work, also two distinctly different approaches. And of course both different from how I would have approached it, which is what I love about these challenges. Hoping to see some more entries before the contest closes on the 24th!

10-23-2011, 06:42 AM	#6
ozlizard Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bridgetown West Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 903	And now for somthing completely different....

10-23-2011, 06:45 AM	#7
ozlizard Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bridgetown West Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 903	This is a challenging image, no doubt! So we need some creative people to have a go! Don't be shy, you have nothing to lose but your credibility!

10-23-2011, 07:17 AM	#8
dunerunner Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: The Black Hills Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,108	A little something in B+W.

10-24-2011, 08:04 AM	#10
jheu02 Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: North Carolina Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,027	Here's mine, and I'll agree, it was a little more difficult to work than I expected. Original plan was a B/W conversion, but I wasn't getting quite the results I wanted. So, I switched gears and thought, I would have shot this at a different aperture to isolate the stone detail of the entryway from the rest. So, that's what I attempted using some mask layers to blur the background, first:everything behind the front wall, then everything after the rear wall. I also desaturated just a little and burned in some areas. After saving the jpeg, I realized that some of the mask areas were a little noticeable, but I didn't do an intermediary save, so I can't really go back to do touchups.

10-25-2011, 07:10 AM	#11
baro-nite Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,294 Original Poster	And another PP Challenge comes to a close. Thanks to all for your participation. From JeffJS, perspective correction plus dynamic range and color adjustments to make color the primary compositional element. Highly saturated to be sure, but it works by going far enough to be more painterly than realistic. From Tim, a similar degree of perspective correction with a tighter crop, then emphasizing rather than flattening the high dynamic range natural to sunlit forest. Emphasizes the light and the texture of the sunlit wall, leading the viewer's eye into the enclosed space. I wouldn't call it naturalistic as to my eye the the contrast is too great for that, but it's a nice gritty effect, especially on the sunlit wall which you have made the subject here. I'd have preferred not blowing out the highlights. From ozlizard, rotate & tight crop with a high-contrast B&W conversion, for a semi-abstract, "what am I looking at?" image. With this presentation I find the texture of the wall plays interesting optical tricks -- parts of it almost look like water or sky. From dunerunner, perspective as shot and B&W conversion bringing up the shadows to make this a study in textures. Very nice conversion and contrast adjustment, although the background is a bit washed-out looking. From John, desaturation and defocus to create a dreamy look, almost tilt/shift. Rather than drawing the eye in as in Tim's rendering, this one puts the viewer "on the threshold". As you point out the masking is a little rough. Really tough for me to choose a winner here -- I can come up with reasons for picking any of these. I'm giving the nod to Tim/atupdate, for the way his rendering pulls the viewer in.

10-25-2011, 04:14 PM	#12
atupdate Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dayton, OH Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,724	Originally posted by baro-nite Really tough for me to choose a winner here -- I can come up with reasons for picking any of these. I'm giving the nod to Tim/atupdate, for the way his rendering pulls the viewer in. Thanks for the honor of hosting the next challenge. I'll go through my files and post a new challenge early tomorrow. Tim

10-26-2011, 03:03 AM	#13
ozlizard Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Bridgetown West Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 903	Thanks for the challenge baro-nite, it really was challenging! Well done to Tim and all the entries.

10-26-2011, 05:10 AM	#14
atupdate Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dayton, OH Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,724	The new challenge is posted here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/16348...ml#post1693383 Tim