6 replies to this topic

[Merco_61]

First a message from this week's file submitter, Bart.

I went for a minimalistic image, as I would call it, with the AF-S 300mm f/4 on Df.

Taken this summer, during our trip to the Black Forest. Lovely nature, excellent weather, really tranquil and this image seems to echo this really well.

I have yet to start processing this years files so, this will be new to me as well.

 

Dropbox file:

https://www.dropbox...._00173.NEF?dl=0

 

And then the rules:

The exercise is weekly, a new thread with a new raw (preferably) or jpg fine file for each week.

The exercise officially runs until midnight between sunday and monday pst (UTC-8). Even after the official deadline, the exercise is still open for new interpretations.

This is a round-robin exercise, the order of submitting the week’s raw file is based on an alphabetical list of applicants’ user names. If the next submitter on the list is unable to post at his/her turn he/she may ask the thread master to be moved down the list no later than friday morning. Late applications will be added at the bottom of the list.

We will revise this when every applicant has had a go, and perhaps change this model.

 

The submitter for the week must make the file along with any specific text for the post available to the thread master during the weekend preceding the challenge week. The thread master will then copy the file to a Dropbox location for the challenge and make the starting post for the week.

 

The exercise is open to all members, not only the file submitters.

 

Images provided, as well as the images resulting from the exercise remain the sole property of the photographer who took them. Those participating in the editing exercise may not use or display the photo outside the exercise thread.

 

It is allowed to make derivative interpretations on other participants’ work (a collaborative approach). If you base your take on someone else’s work, you must indicate what you started from.

 

The owner of the photo comments on the work done, highlighting what he liked best (both the interpretation itself and the technique used to get there) after the original week is over.

 

As this exercise is a tool for learning and inspiration, multiple entries are not only ok, but encouraged if a participant gets a new idea for how to present or interpret the photo, including artistic interpretations.

 

Participants must share how they have achieved their take on the photo.

 

 

Participants are explicitly not limited as to what software is used for the exercise.

[deano]

My first attempt at this weeks challenge.  Bart, I really like the minimalist approach, very clean and neat.

I cropped to showcase just the larger branches, then a bit of green tint, then I changed the lens profile to a fisheye effect for a more creative look.

I think this may look good in b/w which I will play with later this week.

Attached Thumbnails

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[bani12]

Nicely done deano! I like your corp!

I went with a different crop and here is the image:

 

 

I wanted to warm up this image and applied these settings:

[deano]

Excellent Bani, very soft and touchable 

[Malice]

Ui, just in time for this one.

 

Actually, in the beginning I was a bit stumped as to what I could do with this exposure at all, because I frankly would just have kept it the way it was. But since this is an exercise, I couldn't really do this.

 

So, here's my interpretation:

 

 

 

My idea behind this interpretation is to get a little warmer and more summer-like feeling (I miss the summer already and it's only gone for two days now) and also to emphasize on the blade of grass a little more.

 

Workflow and settings:

In Capture NX-D:

- Crop

- Picture Control, Sharpening 7

- WB 5300K

- Exposure correction, +0.2

- Export 16bit TIF

 

In Color Efex Pro 4:

- Sunlight Filter; 10% Light strength, 5310K light temp., Brightness 30%, Contrast 40%, Saturation -10%

- Vignette: Lens, Amount -10%, Size 60%

 

 

Thanks to Bart for lending the image.

[Merco_61]

I didn't see anything I could improve on from the file SOOC in colour, but I wanted to try it in monochrome.

I started out in Capture NX-D

Crop to 5:4

Picture Control set to [VI]Vivid.

 

The monochrome conversion in SEP

 

 

Thank you, Bart. It was a nice, challenging file.

[Bart]

Dean, I found the idea to apply a different lens profile, a fish-eye in casu, really interesting.

I had never thought of that possibility before. One to remember.

This and the crop results in a whole new image. 

 

Urban, the warming up of the image brings it right into the golden hour.

Most definitely a warmer summer look, August perhaps.

Amazing just how impressive the developing module in LR is, in the right hands.

 

Malice, you certainly attained the goal you set for yourself, warmer and a really effective crop as well. 

You also kept the background really soft, lending more attention to the grasses in the foreground. The vignette certainly helps in this regard as well.

I have yet a lot to learn regarding Color Efex.

 

Peter, the crop 5:4 is working well.

The blue filter and the film preset make this into a strong black and white image.

 

 

Myself, I used DxO Optics again.

v11 has a new tool, "spot weighted smart lighting". Meant to work on faces but the tool can be used to select areas of the image that get prioritized over the rest.

 

 

 

Next to that, I applied a free crop, contrast settings, minus for highlights and midtones, and upped the vibrancy and clear view just a bit.

 

 

I decided to take two alternative roads here, based on the WB setting. One on 'as shot' and one set to Daylight.

Giving these two versions, basis for further processing.

As shot:

 

Daylight:

 

(also removed a small leaf on the left that was partially cut off by the border)

 

On the "as shot" version, I applied a DxO FilmPack filter, an emulation of Kodak Ektachrome 100 VS

 

 

 

On the "daylight" version, I also applied a DxO FilmPack filter, an emulation of Kodak Elite Extracolor 100 this time and an additional crop to 1:1

 

 

 

For my monochrome, I used DxO FilmPack again, on the "daylight" version. Starting with the emulation of Ilford Pan F Plus 50, added a light orange filter, contrast settings and a split toning:

 

 

Result:

 

 

 

Thank you all for these beautiful and very different interpretations!

 

Even if the original file is "OK", the processing style, tools and choices made can result in really different images. Always really interesting to see.