RAWCOMP15 -- Give it your best edit!

[Lisa Poland]

Thanks to everyone who voted for my edit in RAWCOMP14. So exciting to win my first challenge on 365!

For those of you who are new to RAWCOMP, the concept is pretty simple. The last winner becomes the host and posts a link to a RAW photo in dng format. Contestants download the image and edit using RAW editor only. The resulting file is then saved as a jpeg, submitted and tagged RAWCOMP15. The host then adjudicates on the edits and presents a selection for voting.

So, here's the picture I chose for you all to edit. It was taken in the fall in the White Mountains of NH. I had to go back a ways, else you all would be editing snow! Here is the link to the RAW file for editing:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2dt4gclwaxgz6xj/rawcomp15.dng

The rules are:

"All editing must be done with a RAW processor , using no other software or plugins" - so either Lightroom, Adobe Camera RAW, the RAW processing software that came with your camera, but nothing else that does more than RAW processing - no NIK plugins, no compositions, no other editing other than RAW processing. This differentiates it from WWYD, where any editing goes. Cropping the photo is allowed but must be done within the RAW processor."

All entries must be submitted by midnight on March 6 and the finalists will be announced on March 7.

Don't forget to tag your photo RAWCOMP15

I look forward to seeing your entries, and good luck. Give it your best edit!

[Françoise]

Could you perhaps post the original photo here so that we know what it looks like - helps when voting. I can't open the link above. Many thanks.

[Lisa Poland]

Here's the original unedited photo.

[Amit]

Here's my attempt. I used LR5. Critiques welcome!

[Lyn Todd]

i also cropped the image a little

[Lisa Poland]

@lambda I love the colors of the trees, but the rocks kind of got lost.

[iqscotland]

[Lisa Poland]

@iqscotland Wow, the sky is fabulous in this edit. Love it!

[Debs Stott]

Here's my entry. Having just done a month of b&w I wanted to do this in b&w and highlight those clouds and have a strong foreground leading into the shot!

[Anita Russell]

@dibzgreasley this is superb, it's hard to get all those tones.

[Jason Ayer]

Here's mine.

[Ian Watts]

Here is mine

[Amit]

@homeschoolmom Good point! thanks.

[Sheralee S]

My entry, a little over the top maybe :D


Edited in Lightroom 3

[Lee-Ann]

Please help me....Im only new and now started to learn to edit photos...also want to enter competitions. I suffer from mild dyslexia so therefore saying " the concept is pretty simple" its not too me. I have downloaded the free trial for Lightroom and Adobe last month...but its so bloody confusing that I dont use it. I only use PICMonkey and Befunky and its so simple for me.
OK... question what free raw processor I can download to use to edit this photo and its simple to use.
My two cameras that I use Olympus Tough & Canon 1000D...I either dont have the software that came with it..either I lost it or use to be installed computer from 5 years ago or so,

Thank you so much for reading and helping me :-)

Ps I like how some people write what raw processor software they use at the end of their photo.

[Lisa Poland]

Stepok's RAW Importer is free and supposedly easy to use, but I have not used it. I use the RAW editor in Photoshop Elements. Elements is rather complicated, but the RAW editor is fairly simple. There is just a list of adjustments and you slide the bar until you like it. I think most of them are this way. Sorry, I'm not more help on this. I've only been using a RAW editor since Christmas myself. This might be a good topic to ask in general public. I'll start a topic for you and see what good advice the more experienced editors have. @leestevo

[Mike Gifford]

A river runs through it...

[Lee-Ann]

@homeschoolmom thanks Lisa for all your help, maybe i should have posted this question myself. Thanks for doing it for me..it has bee a great help.
You picked a great pic to edit..good luck picking the finalists there sre some great entries.

[Lisa Poland]

@leestevo It's definitely going to be hard to pick!

[Elaine]

@homeschoolmom Lisa I have tried to open this 3 times now in PS Elements and it says it's the wrong file. Can you help?

[Lisa Poland]

Are you opening clicking on the dropbox link? @elaine55 It worked for me!

[Elaine]

@homeschoolmom Yes when I have downloaded them before I haven't had a problem.

[Debs Stott]

@neatz Thanks so much Anita!

[Paul H]

@iqscotland love what you did with clouds, what did you do?

[iqscotland]

@fivefingerofdeath Adjustment brush in Lightroom 4. Reduce exposure a little, about 1/4 of a stop, then darken shadows a wee bit and highlights a lot. More contrast, more clarity then a lot of noise reduction both to clear up noise from the adjustments and to smooth out the clouds a bit.