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 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 with most likes, wins and its author will start next round.
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.
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. (We are still refining this rule).
Generative AI must not be used.
Timing:
Get your images posted by Feb 13.
As always, you can vote during the entire contest plus one day after the image submission deadline.
I'll post reminders.
The Image: The Palouse is a fascinating geological feature in the state of Washington that is attractive to photographers but has little other tourism interest. It's mostly farm country. It's fun to visit because only the locals and some photographers are there. This is taken from Steptoe Butte, the highest point in the Palouse, and is a photographer's Must-See stop. Unfortunately there is often a lot of haze as there is in this shot but some editing and cropping can yield some interesting images. JPEG is posted, and ORF raw file is in dropbox here. www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sxtiphlh2biz1o9u785r4/palouse.orf?rlkey=mh7pw270cjej9srdbq5u5449a&dl=0