Editing Side Challenge - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

01/28/2008 10:09:32 PM · #1

Anyone up for an Editing Side Challenge?

I am hoping to learn much more about post processing. I wasn't happy with my entry in Best of 2007, but it was the best I knew how to do with PP.

So, here's the challenge. Given my original image

and my concept based on the famous "Nighthawks" painting by Edward Hopper (Wikipedia link to Nighthawks painting) - a night scene with people inside visible through the window combined with a blend of yesteryear and the modern, what can you come up with? Here's my entry .

To play, you must post an image using the latest Advanced Rules, along with the editing steps that a total novice could follow (thus, USM doesn't help - list each adjustment value). Do not assume Photoshop as the software. If your answer is "you don't have enough in your original to get there", go ahead and post that too.

bdenny

Sony DSC-H5

01/28/2008 10:36:55 PM · #2

You pretty much described ppchallenge.com, check it out if you haven't already. There are weekly originals posted and other dpchallenge users get the chance to edit and vote on the best version. It's a great way to learn more about editing options and techniques. You can even submit your own originals to see how others would edit it (hint, hint). Be sure to check it out!

BAMartin

Apple iPhone 5

01/28/2008 11:13:31 PM · #3

Originally posted by bdenny:

Except that site has not had a new challenge for a very long time. It seems to be on vacation :-(

cynthiann

Nikon D810

01/28/2008 11:26:01 PM · #4

Yeah, where the heck did ppchallenge.com come from and why is it on vacation ? :)

I've been looking for something like that.

awpollard

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

01/28/2008 11:29:39 PM · #5

Originally posted by cynthiann:

Yeah, where the heck did ppchallenge.com come from and why is it on vacation ? :)

I've been looking for something like that.

Yeah it's kind of like the DPL, out to lunch...

Anyways back on topic...

@ - > David: at least tell us was PS filters you have in your arsenal.

01/29/2008 09:57:36 PM · #6

I was wanting to keep it generic to help as many as possible. I use PaintShop Photo Pro X2, which has Curves, USM, Levels, layers, burn, dodge, Contrast/Brightness, Histogram equalize & stretch, Hue, Saturation, and Lighness, color adjustment (RGB %s), straighten, crop, clone, lasso. Feel free to use any of the tools in Photoshop, just identify the tool (and not by menu option).

awpollard

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

01/29/2008 10:11:34 PM · #7

Originally posted by dtremain:

Cool, as do I use PSP X2, the shots screams Lucis me...but I will stick to just PSP.

smurfguy

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/29/2008 10:14:49 PM · #8

Originally posted by cynthiann:

Yeah, where the heck did ppchallenge.com come from and why is it on vacation ? :)

Well, beings that it's a free site I provide and maintain, it's not always at the top of my list. =) At the same time, I'm sometimes frustrated by it's shortcomings (slow web host, clunky file-based DB) but don't currently have time/money to invest to make it better.

Finally, I enjoy posting really good base images to showcase how editing can really take them over the top (which we've had a fair share of - thanks guys!), but it can be difficult to find great images to edit. Don't get me wrong - it can be fun to "do your best with a mediocre image" now and again. But the chance to edit great images is what really makes it exciting.

That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Anybody got a great image we all can edit? =D

01/31/2008 11:05:07 PM · #9

What is Lucis?

yanko

Carl Zeiss 50mm ZE f/1.4 Planar T for Canon

01/31/2008 11:32:08 PM · #10

Originally posted by dtremain:

What is Lucis?

A plugin. It's called LucisArt Filter. Much like Photomatix and Shadow/Highlights Adjustment, it helps bring out detail and when pushed to extremes can give you the cartoony effect.

This is a photo that I did a while back using that filter. In the notes it shows the original and a non-lucis version for comparision.

Message edited by author 2008-01-31 23:35:13.

Greetmir

Nikon D60

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Nikon

02/01/2008 02:08:12 AM · #11

... which turned out to be a SUPER illustration, Richard.

OK, David. I am no professional by ANY means but I am willing to give it a shot although bringing it out from such a dark image might cause a lot of noise. Then again that might look good on it. We will see ...

Message edited by author 2008-02-01 02:12:27.

Greetmir

Nikon D60

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Nikon

02/01/2008 03:58:40 AM · #12

[thumb]640991[/thumb]

Here is my attempt. Lots of fiddling ... I hope I did not lose sight of the target.

Exposure +1.33, Shadow/Highlight 100/25/100 100/25/100, Rotate 2.9 degrees CW, Select cafe windows, Brightness +20 Contrast +20, Inverse selection, Reduce color noise 100%, Crop to place cafe windows in lower right RoT sweet spot, Clone out super bright spots on horse carriage and center of image sign, USM 10/60/0, Clone out bush tip bottom right, Levels (mid levels +20), Curves (moderate S curve for contrast), Select cafe windows again, inverse selection, Saturation -50, Reduce color noise 30% overall, Border, Resize to 800X, USM 10/60/0.

I like how this really accentuates the cafe windows and cheerfulness inside but it was very very hard to get the effect that I was attempting with such a low resolution start that needed cropping. I hope you like it.

Message edited by author 2008-02-02 21:17:04.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

02/01/2008 08:16:07 AM · #13

Okay.....before I spend a bunch of time trying to get the values down.....is this the kind of thing you mean? Original: [thumb]641018[/thumb]

Edit I did a while back.....I like this image and have been trying to get the "Right" look for it: [thumb]628720[/thumb]

Today's redo: [thumb]641011[/thumb]

I actually had someone on another site tell me this reminded them of an Edward Hopper image....I was MOST pleased!

I really want to learn how to tone map and/or do overlays with multiple copies of the same image to get a different effect.

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Nikon

02/02/2008 07:58:43 PM · #14

NikonJeb - that is amazing! I think you're on the right track.

Greetmir - I had graininess trouble with my edit too. Like what you've done with the window & inside, through. Also, your sky is quite a bit darker than what I had. Lots of textures in the shot, and you're right - the low res doesn't help. I'll have to try to replicate what you did.

Message edited by author 2008-02-02 19:59:19.

Greetmir

Nikon D60

02/02/2008 09:21:09 PM · #15

If you could send me a larger image ... anything under 8 meg ... I would love to play with it and see if I could make it better ... I do not think that it is an incredible image but I think it has potential if one was to really highlight the cafe windows ... My email addy is Greetmir@yahoo.com.

P.S. I think the title should be something like "Snuggled in the Comfort Zone" or some such cozy attitude title. I see this photo as a whole whack of stuff going on outside that is day to day stuff and hectic but inside it is a warm and cozy and relaxed respite from the frantic everyday stuff.

Message edited by author 2008-02-02 21:27:59.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

02/06/2008 11:59:51 PM · #16

The noise and haloing involved in working from such a small original in 8-bit is really extreme, but otherwise I kind of like where this version is going: