Continuing the image editing thread, 66th issue.

General rules:

♦ 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 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.
♦ Generative AI must not be used.

Timing:

Get your images posted by 2nd May .
As always, you can vote during the entire contest plus one day after the image submission deadline.

The photo:

In the Arena in Verona you can sit on the 2000 year old stone steps of a fantastic amphitheater and enjoy a performance of your chosen opera. The Romans certainly knew how to build these massive structures; the acoustics and the view to the stage are superb.
With a visible orchestra and world-class performers in stunning costumes, it is a captivating experience, even for those who aren't typical opera fans.

I was amazed at your efforts to reduce noise reduction and enhance the details that you made in my last “edit me an image” challenge!
This photo was taken in 2017 with a medium telephoto, hand held, using a m4/3 system camera at a relatively high ISO. So there’s also some noise to deal with in this shot too. The rest of the edit is up to you😊

Here's the jpeg:

And a link to the RAW:
www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wj2d0lld90716a438lcl2/ANnS8q337sX-e-9osQdjCWc?rlkey=7yl52rmtrgggyaofcwmtf1m3a&dl=0

Good luck to all.

At the end of the contest, just for fun, I’ll post a few more images here from that wonderful evening in the Arena in Verona.

My first try: changed white balance, darkened background, then selected orchestra area, brightened it and changed colour to bit less yellow. I think that orchestra area is now lit more than it was in real life, but this is not the way I went...

I used to shoot a lot of this kind of stuff, much of it low light high school musical events and plays that included students in the pit orchestra (often my kids) which I would typically want to include when possible, and I did so here despite not having the latest A.I. RAW demosaicing/NR which would have improved the darker areas significantly. Still, it looks pretty good if you don't look too close and everything else looks just fine. A nice sharp RAW file without any blown highlight detail made this a relatively easy one. Just the usual Lightroom adjustments with my usual custom profile for this sort of thing (based on Fuji color), including some geometry tweaks and a crop.

So, to preserve the ambient atmosphere, as many details as possible and without noise.🙂

Wider crop, de-emphasized orchestra...

I've always thought theatre looks great processed in B&W, so here's one of those...

Not looking for votes, but was pleased how this abstract turned out. DXO>PS>Topaz Studio 2 plugin>APF-R sharpening plugin.

Not my typical cup o’ tea, but it’s kinda cool. I like it.

The last day for posting your edit is tomorrow!

As a reminder, you can vote during the entire contest plus one day after the image submission deadline.
...not many votes here so far, please take a look and click "like" on your favourites.

Please

VOTE, VOTE, VOTE

The last day for voting is today

4 images are all in 1st place , all have equal votes.
More votes needed to break that tie !

And the winner is,...

Drum roll,..........

@ErikWithaK

This was a great edit, well done !
Your editing really shows off the vibrant colours, contrast and clarity of the performers in their stunning costumes.
It was also my preference to make sure that the hard working orchestra is visible, but still dark enough so they don't compete with the actions on stage

This edit has reduced the noise and enhanced details too.

Many thanks to all the other good entries too.

The baton is now passed to @ErikWithaK
...looking forward to your next challenge

Here is that winning entry,.....

We had lots of other good entries!

Thanks 😀
This unexpected edit from @Stormyboy was perhaps the most unique of all the runner ups, and deserves a special mention.

The line drawing effect has captured the feeling for the scene very well, and there even seems to be a "flow of movement" in the orchestra,... you can almost hear the music .
The performers on stage are a clever mixture of line drawing and detailed facial features
... and all the colours seem to fit nicely too
nicely done!

...as promised,

here are few more photos to give you a feeling for that evening in Verona

First the whole stage

and a few scenes

...and the final bow to the audience, to a roaring applause. A great performance!

Thanks, this looks like an amazing venue. I’ll definitely check it out if I ever get to Italy (definitely on my list of places to visit). I’ll try to come up with something new for folks to play with tonight.