first off - what i didn't like about the picture.
the obvious one is the weather; can't help that. flat tones, blown-out sky... what to do?
next is the chromatic abberation in the top of the frame, a common issue shooting wide in scenes like this one.
then some minor gripes about framing, the tourists, and straightness, but these are all easily fixed.
what did i like about it?
well, japanese maples are extremely photogenic. they're one of the quinessential flora one associates with japan. as long as they're in the frame, there's hope! and of course, kinkakuji is a photogenic subject from almost any angle. so there was plenty to work with as far as saving this image was concerned.
the entrants, from first to last submission! BigMackCam
i like this one because i instantly knew what you were doing with it. i'm seeing it as a late 19th century image of a famous temple, and you did a fantastic job. in my personal taste, i would have done a bit more to distort or lter the image to look as though it were from the time, perhaps something about less sharpness? but that's just my opinion
really liked it.
johnhilvert
aaah, you decided to replace the sky - the first of a few. decent job, and i get what you were going for with the punchy colours! they're very pleasing to the eye, probably moreso than any of the other entries. however from a tenchnical POV, there is a bit too much haloing going on for it to be still in the realm of fooling the first time viewer.
D1N0
ah, i see what you did there. a great job, almost manga-like in appearance
glowing, yet realistic colours. my only criticism is leaving the CA around the leaves in the top of the frame!
jcomely
i think you managed to add the most pop to the colours whilst retaining realism. the only thing i dont like is the effect onthe water of the lake!
iheiramo
aaah, something different with the crop, good. confident work. and i like the subdued, film-like colours. calming image.
glenn5995
this one is by far the best job of replacing the sky and the reflection it had on the lake. the colours are punchy without being unrealistic, and its a very pleasant scene to look at. my only gripe - based on personal taste - is framing the image :P
pentageek
i think i get what you were aiming for with this one, but the blur has way too sharp of a line of definition for me? if you give it a bit more depth im sure it would work better
i liked the crop.
dlneubec
this one probably is the most realistic, colour wise. as punch as you can get on an overcast day without looking unreal. nice crop, but i'm less of a fan of the colouring of the sky
atupdate
there's always one, isnt there?! extra points for the laugh
BATMON
extra points for having the guts to go with a landscape crop and embracing the tourists. that branch hangs in just the right place. lovely work!
todd
a tighter crop still, and you clearly did some work to bring out the detail on tge buiding itself. nice one.
astonm
you went to a lot of trouble and thats evident in the final product. i agree with your sentiment that reducing the yellow around the bulding kind of made it blend in, and you did a good job with making it stand out but with realistic colours, nice job.
tuggie76
i love how you were able to get warmth out of the colours, and the crop works really well. my only beef is the haloing in the top branches, it's a bit too obvious and visible
noelcmn
the bravest crop of them all! i felt like this was a photograph i would see in a 60s issue of life magazine. the strong contrast and cool colours seemed to make me think of that era! and i love how you can see detail on the ground floor. (or maybe it reminds me of a scene from an early golden harvest film??)
The winners! 3rd place - BigMackCam
i really felt like i spotted this photo in a suitcase full of old ones at a flea market. well done mate
2nd place - todd
your comp was great. i like how it gives equal weighting to the building and the branch in the foreground. the colours were very realistic whilst still giving the image a wow factor!
1st place - glenn5995
always a tough job to replace a sky and you sir did it very very well. the atmospheric lighting you added made the image just warm enough to feel like a late summer sunset and the way you handled the water was very technically impressive. i'm overlooking the frame part - as i said its just a personal preference! so yeah, great work, showing off some technical abilities