Continuing the image editing thread, 49th 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 and/or techniques 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 wins and its author will start next round, unless they would prefer to pass the torch to someone else.
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 from the the photos receiving the most votes.

Editing rules:

• All "normal" adjustments (brightness, colours, 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..
• Generative AI must not be used.

Timing:
Get your images posted by November 29. As always, you can vote during the entire contest plus one day after the image submission deadline. I'll post reminders.

The photo:
The image was taken in last December in Mustio Manor park near Lohja, Southern Finland. It was wet and dripping weather then, let's hope for something different this year :)
You can find the SOOC jpg image below and here’s a link to the RAW image (Fuji x100v)

How about this - a crop to get to the subject and then introduce some red into it to complement the green.

Keep going, some pretty good ideas so far!

Last day to post your (winning) ideas, do not hold back!

OK, no more entries accepted. Start voting now :)

Time is over.

Yet again - we have a draw (between two B&W entries), it is up to me to decide, it is not easy this time.
See yourselves - which one would you prefer?

Well, after some meditation I declare Erik's version as the winner, congratulations!
Now it is your task to start the next, jubilean round of our little competition :)

@AlainCh2
I agree :)

I'll write some comments later today, I'm currently at work - they don't give me much free time here :( :)

Few comments as promised. I will not comment on every version, but I'll try to comment on every participant.

Very interesting high-contrast processing, looks like some first snow is fallen.
Maybe tighter crop would be even better - currently it looks a bit too busy for my eyes.

Mystical atmosphere - choose either way (or just don't move at all), you will be lost anyway :)

This would one of my possible ideas to enhance original image - like you, I like the reds :) Also good crop - makes the shrub stand out by itself.

Do I need to say anything about the winning image? Like some of posters noted, this image benefits from developing it in B&W, your version is very carefully balanced and somehow creates very light mood - even lighter than it was in reality.

Most realistic version, makes me feel being in the park again. Sure it looks somewhat dull compared to other edits - but I can assure that it actually was very similar atmosphere there.

The warmest edit of the batch :) But somehow close to my personal processing - that's why I like it ;)

Reflects nicely your choosen title "Winter is coming". Lone shrub, keeping last warmth inside, surrounded by calm and cold environment. A bit too dark for my taste - although it was dark enough there (early evening), our eyes tend to compensate for it.

Another B&W processing. Very good tonality, very strong emotion, ideal crop for such processing - unfortunately a bit too dark emotion, even sky lightness (leading viewer into brighter realms) does not help. I would say that artistically it looks better than Erik's version - but for me Erik's edit naturalness and lightness wins (by a very little margin, but anyway).

I'll attach exampe of my processing too - it is not exactly the same image, but close one (I often take multiple exposures of same scene).

Arvo,

Thank you for your comments and an interesting picture to play with.

Alan