Edit Me An Image #19 - Portland Head Light

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 23rd.
As always, you can vote during the entire contest plus one day after the image submission deadline.
I'll post reminders.

The Image: The light was very nice when deciding to go for a boat tour along the Portland Maine shoreline, but it was just about as ugly as possible when we got to this Lighthouse. Not sure why I even bothered to take the shot, but I did. The DR is high with strong back lighting, the light is harsh and ugly, the color is problematic, and it's really not the most compelling shot to begin with. It's exposed as intended for the sky but is, of course, very dark and crunchy elsewhere. I was able to pull a rather decent looking B&W result out of this file, and it's absolutely fine if you are inclined to go the same route, but extra points for those who can produce a good looking color version. The last challenge was a very low contrast image, this week is the opposite. Good luck!

A jpeg with my default import processing (there is no SOOC jpeg)...

And a link to the RAW file: www.dropbox.com/t/BqNxCPzj7E96Qrtj

@Daneland - my thought too!

Decomposed to Y Cb Cr - globally sharpened Y, increased Cr, reduced Cb, recomposed to RGB.:

I love the Portland Head Light, I have taken many a shot there, and it's often very challenging because the light can be great or it can be problematic. Stuck pretty much with the nice subtle sunset light you had there for this version.

For this one turned to Analog Efex to get an old film camera look with plenty of grain and other anomalies. Still considering how to formulate my final try. Change colors? Paint it? Turn it to nighttime?

Some AI masking in Capture One, plus some tweaking here and thre.

It's a nice scene at sunset. Of course the main subject is too dark in the RAW image because you chose to not overexpose the sky. so just needed to brighten the foreground and make a few tweaks. Recovered the highlights and corrected some pink chromatic aberation in the bright water reflections added some contrast to the water, cropped a bit from the right hand side,...

More of an early morning feel...

Tim

Or evening feel

Tim

Night arrives, compliments of curves, levels, various brushes, ray filter in an old version of Luminar that I coaxed into action, a texture overlay.

Note: Today, Sunday the 23rd, is the final day to submit your effort(s) with this one, Monday will be the day for any final voting. Some good (and varied) submissions so far.

With Fireplace33 and TimRichard's efforts both receiving 4 votes, that means another tie to break.

And the winner is... Fireplace33's fine entry - primarily chosen for its more natural looking color (as I see it, anyway) and, especially the clean and natural looking local contrast. Neither edit matched the cool harsh color of the original scene (which is fine), but Fireplace pulled off the alternate reality a bit better, IMO.

And just an observation I'd like to point out.. One thing I found immediately distracting with many entries was the uneven appearance of the lighthouse.(including this one, but less so). Many folks who lightened of the foreground, either failed to continue up to the top of the lighthouse, or did so leaving a noticeable unevenness. Not everyone would notice this, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

Anyway, congratulations Fireplace, you're up next...

Oh, OK, thank you.
And thanks for the votes.
I'll post a new challenge tomorrow, It will be a "3 shot bracketed exposure" challenge again :-)

Congratulations Fireplace33 - Erik made the right decision

Tim