Edit Me An Image - #7 - Oct. 30

Continuing our image editing thread, 7th issue already :)

General rules (unchanged):

• 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)
• the edited version gathering most likes within a week or so, wins and its author will start next round

Editing rules (unchanged):

• all "normal" adjustments (brightness, colors, 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 object addition or replacement is allowed, non-essential objects may however be removed, and parts of the original image can be "moved" to a different position in the image /added after the in-thread discussion: skies can be replaced, unless they are the main subject of the image/
• generative AI must not be used

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.
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.

Get your images posted by November 6 (I will close contest in the evening in UTC+2 timezone). As always, you can vote during the entire contest plus one day after the image submission deadline.

About attached photo: Old wooden sculptures in somewhat unfortunate lighting conditions.
SOOC JPG is attached here, RAW file (Fuji x100v) can be downloaded from drive.google.com/file/d/1JNoMCxa7h0QaBoXeyh-meQxoMsWKwNR1/view

How about this? I thought the creatures looked a bit unearthly, so I've put them on a different planet (pink sky) and made it look like they are on an old fashioned TV

Good start, go on :)

My second attempt. The figures look better against a stormy background. Cropped to fit.

ON1 Photo Raw has the ability to replace the sky. That's what I did. I also did other stuff (that I can't remember now, but could work out again if needed)

[edit]. I checked. I applied a retro preset, turned the shadows up and cropped it.

Alan

Hmm, I would say that sky could be replaced this way - it does not change image essence. If you had replaced sheep with wolf, then this would be more serious change. For me it is intuitelvely clear, what kind of changes are allowed and what ones not - I just have some difficulties to express that in a foolproof way.

I think we will allow such changes, unless more users are against that. I'll amend rules later today.

PS. Can someone help me formulate rules change in proper English? Most likely word 'object' in my language and in English do not match completely and this may create some ambiguity (for me 'object' does not include 'sky' for example).

Heh :) Yes, it was addressed specifically to Alan, but times change.

At the time of writing first set of rules I thought that replacing skies is not good idea, but looking at proposed edits over the contest history it seems that often skies can be replaced without changing the essence of the image.

@TimRichards Thank you for suggestion, makes intent of that rule more clear!

Thank you. I didn't feel the Sky was "the image" and changing it (in my opinion) enhanced the image. But if Arvo (who made the rules) feels it's too much, let me know and I will delete my entry.

Alan

Quite contrary - your edit is absolutely fine, just rules are written not in the best way.

I think we should not make rules too complex, also it is never possible to create rule for every possible situation. I don't know how it is said in English, but in my language there's statement like "while interpreting laws, you must base your decision not on the text of the law, but on the purpose behind the law" - I hope you can understand what is meant here.

Thereby I suggest something like next: Object addition, replacement and deletion are generally not permitted, but can be performed on condition that image remains basically the same and the original image author accepts such manipulation.

If anyone can suggest better phrase instead of "...image remains basically the same...", then I would be thankful!