Month 2 for the One Four Challenge which you can read about it, and join it here. This challenge is about processing 1 image in 4 different ways over 4 weeks. I am working with a photo I took of the Chicago skyline; I cropped it to panoramic format and intensified the blues in Week 1.
Again, the processing for Week 2 was 2-step.
First, I took the suggestion of a comment made on Week 1 by “Lens Addiction” and removed the perspective distortions. For this step I used the app SKRWT. This app is amazing…I had never used it before, but it took me only a few seconds to do the corrections! I used the original photo for this step(thanks “Snow Fissures and Fractures“) and re-cropped it to panoramic. The buildings do look straighter now, but to me, this also took away a bit of character.
The second step was using Lightroom where I added a develop preset(by Stuck in Customs). The preset I used for this week is called “On Recreational Drugs” and as the name of the preset suggests, the colours are intense. Maybe a bit too intense and HDRish, but there is always next week to tone things down:
For comparison here is Week 1:
And the original:
Linking to One Four Challenge week 4 December here.
coolquilting 
The changes you have made really work and the image is strong because of them.
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I like the straightening of the buildings, and the preset really makes those colors pop! I don’t know why but I’m really into contrasty this month… this is my fav so far. 🙂
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Wow! I couldn’t pick which one I like best because I find both your adjusted photos way better than the slightly flat original. What’s interesting is that neither comes across as HDR; the colour intensity is just about right.
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All I can see are improvements. Nothing is overdone and the straight buildings do not distract from your earlier version. I don’t think the colors are over-saturated at all.
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Beautiful!! I love this image! I already have my favorite of yours so far, but waiting for the next two. 🙂
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This is a great image. Adjusting the geometry really makes it better. The colors shine. I can feel myself there. Good work!
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Oh, this looks lovely. The tones are so cool, sets the mood perfectly. I really like it.
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I love what you have done with the photograph. It is fun challenge and I can see I will learn a lot from everyone’s post.
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Your adjusted photo definitely works better than the original. The love the intensity of the colours. Much more interesting. The original is also good, but compared to the adjusted photo, the original seems a little flat. I am going to join in with the fun challenge too.
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I will go check out your blog!!
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Great edit! I didn’t know about the SKWRT app – thanks for the info. I must admit that non-vertical lines don’t usually bother me, but it is nice to know how to fix them! Love the effect of the preset, too.
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Ooh I like this, and I totally get what you mean about the image losing some character from the previous unstraightened version, you have to be careful of the inbuilt twitch most people have thats around lines that aren’t straight that should be straight. Of course photographers are the worst of all LOL
The preset you chose works really well here, it really highlights the shiny reflective surfaces of that bunch of buildings to the left that are catching the light, and adds some texture and drama to the sky. Nice choice, I find a lot of Trey’s presets are a step too far for my delicate sensibilities but this one does the job and is spot on!
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Marsha, I really like this edit.
First up this morning I was viewing on an iPad and I have to say the computer screen does it much more justice.
I like the way in this image, you have brought out the small details – in the sky and water and the city itself. I think this is my favourite of the 3 so far (incl the original). Nice 😀
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Oh, I like the pano version and straightening the lines up makes the buildings look very officious and citylike. Everything seems much more clear in this second week too – would that be the effect of the preset by Stuck in Customs as I know he is into HDR in a big way?
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It is an HDR preset..I love stuck in customs!
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Interesting changes. What apps have you used?
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Just used SKRWT to straighten and the the Lightroom preset(HDR) ….nothing else. The LR preset is pretty intense!!!
I could have used LR to do the job that SKRWT did too…
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Thanks. There are so many out there…..
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I know…it is overwhelming…and you always think there may be something better than what you are using now
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I must have just put my 3D glasses on! Wow – powerful app!
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It’s the Lightroom preset…..
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Wow, it is really coming alive. 😀
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These are terrific colors, and seem true to life . . . if just a smidge better 🙂
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