The Lightroom Playground - Week 1

[JulieM]

The purpose of this weekly challenge is to encourage creative experimentation with Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. All Lightroom users are welcome to join in and for those who don't have Lightroom but wish to play, here (http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/) is the link to the 30-day trial version.

Please make any adjustments you choose to the following image and post your results in this thread. Share how you processed the image and provide information on any develop presets used. All modifications on the image must be made in Lightroom with the exception of sharpening, noise reduction, and resizing. Matt Kloskowski's Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Killer Tips (http://www.lightroomkillertips.com/) is a great source for Lightroom Develop presets.

PNG File:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1sDXjT0DbnjFY6Ya2RqAa5F0TxYAsT_thumb.png (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1sDXjT0DbnjFY6Ya2RqAa5F0TxYAsT)


RAW File Download Link:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/i9fb55

Please post comments and questions in The Lightroom Playground - Week 1 Comments & Questions (http://www.elementsvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?p=342696#post342696) thread.

[Chuck S.]

Okay, here's something a little different:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1zzs9JywRUv3z7N91sbylOUoVMMM0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1zzs9JywRUv3z7N91sbylOUoVMMM0)

It uses a technique described by Matt K. on his Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Killer Tips website. Here's the link:

Surreal Edgy Effect (http://www.lightroomkillertips.com/2007/video-surreal-edgy-effect/)

Sorry I couldn't be more original the first time out....:o

[Elemobe]

Thanks for starting this Julie.


Here are my 2 efforts. The first one is the one I came up with. Adjusted white balance, then increased exposure, fill light and boosted the sky. Played with curves (a soft s curve) and finished with a vignette.

The second one is from a set of presets I downloaded from a link on this forum. Sorry, I don't remember the link (Julie, did you post it?). The preset is called Deviant 2 and I think this one is best, really suits the photo.

Thanks again Julie, a great photo to play with, really enjoyed it and lends itself perfectly to this challenge.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1cVLTCViNGw9IGUFSaICJTIHhm6Kr_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1cVLTCViNGw9IGUFSaICJTIHhm6Kr)
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1KZafV6bzrNqj5YGmOvK6ryNnjNkfR0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1KZafV6bzrNqj5YGmOvK6ryNnjNkfR0)

[Chuck S.]

Okay, another one. This started with a User Preset called WOW HSL Sunset O3, then an exposure increase, cropping, an HSL adjustment to tone down the green, highlight, fill, clarity, and sharpening. Just wanted something that 'popped' a little - still playing....:

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1dkUZw5W0UKZGI60359B8z9uJcOWu_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1dkUZw5W0UKZGI60359B8z9uJcOWu)

[bayhli]

For my first time out I stuck to my basic processing routines. I'll get me some presets and try those out another day.

I straightened the horizon just a hair, removed about 3 dust spots (boy your camera is clean!). I cropped out some distracting pieces on the right-hand side to place more emphasis on the group of statues in the background as well as the foreground statue. In order to keep the image ratio I lost some of his lower leg which I didn't really care for.

Then it was on to the basic settings - I used a custom white balance for grey, increased everything i.e. exposure, brightness, some fill and the tone curve to try and lighten the heaviest shadow. Because of all the grey I upped the contrast to high. I then did selective sharping in Elements to all the statues but it doesn't have much effect because they are so neutral I guess?

I love this image of yours Julie... love the statues against the blue of the water and all the little ducks in various spots of the background, the naturalness of it all; lots to look at and enjoy. I must get down your way!


http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1HGyHafhsmDsjEZXEOPYJcbgjtV49D_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1HGyHafhsmDsjEZXEOPYJcbgjtV49D)

[JulieM]

Well, I got my computer back and wanted to have a go at this one before the new one is posted tomorrow. I discovered to my chagrin that somehow all my downloaded develop presets have disappeared. Now I know what I'll be doing today while snowed in for the second day!

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1F4FZYi7zVHO3LT7hvGpqQmlXlyG0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1F4FZYi7zVHO3LT7hvGpqQmlXlyG0)

On this, I cropped, boosted clarity, adjusted tone curve to a more defined "S" shape, used the landscape sharpening preset, and raised the saturation in the blues and aquas. Then I applied the "Antique Grayscale" preset. I rather like the effect.

I think I may go back to this site and see if it is accessible in the snow.

[Codebreaker]

Here's a couple....

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1o2lT38xDmNtoSJBiVsoBy9VIZBoI

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Eab16qXm5fJwQ9tcFJRpnIo2j84l0

The cloning version needs some more time and effort which is not really worth it in LR.

Colin