Edit Me An Image #13 - Dec. 18 2024

Continuing the image editing thread, 13th issue!

General rules:

A previous round winner presents a busy or just not so interesting image, having at least some potential for different crops or visions.
Anyone (except author of original image) can edit the presented image, up to three distinct edits in separate posts are permitted.
All edits must be based on original image, not on another people's edits (of course borrowing ideas would not be a problem).
Short explanations about your editing intentions are encouraged, but not required.
Once the deadline for images has been reached, no new image versions will be accepted. Questions and (polite) discussions of techniques are welcome, so that we can learn from one another how certain edits were achieved.
The edited version gathering most likes within the announced period, wins and its author will start next round.
On the closing day for voting, if there is a draw in the number of likes for two or more edits, then the person that posted the original image will decide the winner.

Editing rules:

All "normal" adjustments (brightness, colors, curves etc) are permitted (both local and global ones).
All geometric adjustments (perspective, cropping etc) are permitted.
Artistic effects (brushes, textures etc) are allowed.
No additions or replacements may be made to the main subject matter of the image; non-essential objects may be removed, and parts of the original image can be "moved" to a different position in the image. Sky replacements are OK unless the sky is the main subject. (We are still refining this rule).
Generative AI must not be used
Get your images posted by December 23. As always, you can vote during the entire contest plus one day after the image submission deadline. I'll post reminders. We want to be done with this one before Christmas!

Here's an image (jpeg format) from Havana, Cuba.

Yes, it is underexposed, shot through the window of a lurching tour bus, with all the blur, reflections and white balance issues that entails, at a high ISO that is terrible on m43 cameras. But I promise, there is hidden potential in this image. See what you can find.

Here's a link to the ORF file in dropbox. www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wrcmvh8ojg4q2l5hnok9e/PB171103.orf?rlkey=dynzo6h1bau1lq9uix247fo9b&dl=0

Some masking, some adjustments and a heavy crop. I have tried to emphasise the bright colours of Latin America.

Processed in Capture 1

Got to be more colour in Cuba...

EDIT: Just to add that I like the way it's shot through the bus window and kept/enhanced the reflections. I also like the traffic lights in the corner/edge as part of the narrative.

I went for a more muted vintage color palette than most with this edit. I can't say I'm all that I'm completely happy with it, but the "natural" color wasn't especially attractive (to me) and everything else I tried looked worse. Lightroom...

Version #2. A fresh start from scratch in B&W. Lightroom...

If you want to submit a photo, get it done in the next 8 hrs. I will close it to new submissions in the morning USA time, allow voting on the 24, then announce a winner and pass the Christmas baton!

Thanks to all who played! It’s voting day! Tonight USA time, before Santa comes, I’ll announce the winner here and by private thread.

Maybe 3 mins too late?, but here goes
Version 1

And version 2
which I prefer :-)

And so it's a tie between Alan's tight crop of the bare chested guy on the balcony and ErikWithaK's monochrome. That leaves me to decide, and those two were my first choices as well, so it's hard to pick. I think Erik's sweeping scene reflects the timelessness of old Havana, so I'm going to choose to pass the Christmas baton to Erik, to post an image we can all play with going forward. Thanks to all who played.

Be consoled that I preferred your sky replacement on the basis that the original gray sky jarred with the building colors in most other edits..

Hoping he'll show up and accept the baton, we'll give him a few days to recover from Christmas! (I haven't even had Christmas yet, we are on an alternate schedule this year).

Sorry about the delay (and thanks for the win). I was indeed away for the holiday and somewhat off the grid (and kinda hoping I wouldn't win).. Back now and Edit Me An Image #14 is up.