Beachcombing...

[i_luv_ph0tos]

http://digital-photography-school.co...-pictures-pop/

I tried the first one.. on gimp... here's the result.. which one do you like better and why?

I also removed some objects (lower right and the guy swimming)
Original:


Edited:

[chrismar]

I like the 2nd one. The colors are bright and vivid and the contrast is good. The only thing is (and this is small) is the palm fronds look a little dark and shadowy.

[Father Bob]

Very nice.
Lost a bit of detail in the trees but thats just being picky!

[wulf]

The second one is definitely more of a "glossy holiday brochure" result (and also an example of why I never trust glossy holiday brochures! ). Much richer, cleaner and more enticing.

My only qualm is that it appears to be slightly leaning to the right - probably because the yellow flag pole (centre of the image) tends slightly that way, exacerbated by the curve of the bay. If you haven't tweaked the rotation this might be worth playing with although you will have to judge it by eye as there is no firm point of reference.

Wulf

[bahgheera]

The first thing I noticed is that in the edited version, there's a wave thats not in the first photo, the palm fronds and flags are in a different position from the first photo, and the shadows are going in crazy directions (opposite directions?) in the edited version. ???

[Snowdust]

Nice job making it pop. I agree, if you could bring out some green in the palms, it would really stand out, but I think you did a great job so far.