First off, I would like to thank everyone that took up the challenge.
And a challenge it was.
Actually, more of a rescue mission
I think the challenge is pretty obvious: a really dark picture needs to be brightened without having the noise run havoc with the image.
Noise seems to be the #1 enemy here.
I was really curious how it would be attacked. Al sorts of tools to reduce noise are available, however, often at the cost of detail.
Another solution would be to come up with the noise transformed into an acceptable form of grain of course.
You seemed to use two general approaches: the 'artistic' path and the more 'realistic' path.
Both have merit and I must say I really liked all the results you came up with.
So, my usual approach to this sort of thing - to pick the one I like best - doesn't really seem to help here.
Next approach.
I know which elements are in the image and I went looking where I could find them back again. Certainly with the preservation of detail.
On the other hand, for those loosing some of these elements due to cropping, that wasn't held against you of course.
And here are the results:
In reversed order
3rd place for Anton
2nd place for Sam (Samtr87)
And 1st place for Mike (Fastback67)
My Congratulations to Anton, Sam and Mike and indeed to everyone that participated.
Very fine results by all of you!
And as these things go, the winner sets up the next challenge.
Perhaps a bit less challenging?