Edit My RAW File [Photo Contest]

January 31, 2013 50 Comments

For the last month or so, I’ve been teasing this contest but today I’m finally ready to release the details.  This contest will test your skill at editing photos in Lightroom, Photoshop, Aperture, or whatever other software you choose.  I took the photo and I’m inviting you to download the photo and edit it however you see fit.

The best editing job will win a $100 Amazon Gift Card and a free online photography class from us.  The second and third place winners will win one free online photography class.

Photo for editing contest

This is the photo you’ll be editing for the contest. It’s sharp, but it has exposure issues, white balance problems, and needs skin smoothing. Plus, you can add in your own special style to design it up.

How to Enter this Contest

  1. Download my RAW file here. Once on that page, click File > Download. You may need to sign in to your Google account.  If you can’t open a RAW file or can’t get Google Drive to work for you, then you can save a large JPEG of the file here.
  2. Edit the photo however you see fit.  No holds barred.  ONE entry per person.
  3. Upload the photo to our NEW Improve Photography Community page on Google+, or you can pin your photo to one of your pinterest boards and write #improvephotography as the pin description.  While you’re at it, you can also follow me on Pinterest here!  Deadline to enter is midnight MST on Tuesday, February 5, 2013.

How We’ll Judge and Announce the Winner

Dustin Olsen and I will judge the photos according to three criteria: (1) Does the editing job make the model look her best? (2) Are there any technical issues with the editing job such as noise, sharpness, etc? and (3) Has the editor taken creative liberty to create something unique?

The winner will be announced on Monday, February 11  by the end of the day on the Improve Photography Google+ page as well as on Facebook.

More Important Rules

  1. ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON!  Seriously.  I mean it :-)
  2. You’re welcome to composite this photo with any other photo that YOU took and own all rights to.
  3. No holds barred in terms of what you can do in editing.  You’re welcome to go crazy or just do basic simple edits–make the photo look how YOU want it to.
  4. The last time we did a contest like this, someone edited the model to look like a vampire.  That was…. weird.  Maybe no vampire edits this time?  :-)
  5. No entries will be accepted after midnight MST on Tuesday, February 5, 2013.

But What if You Don’t Own Photoshop?

The good news is that you can download a free 30 day trial of Photoshop or Lightroom de graca (I picked that one up in Mexico).  You can also use free photo editing software like GIMP.

The Legal Stuff

Prizes left unclaimed until after February 15, 2013 will be forfeited.  Prizes can be claimed only by sending an email to prize@improvephotography.com.

You’re only licensed to download, edit, and use this photo to enter this contest–the photo is mine.  By entering this contest, you grant Improve Photography LLC and its employees, assigns, licensees, and sublicensees the right to publish your edits to this photo in any way reasonably connected to this contest or this site, including use in a possible webinar discussing the entries.  If you choose to composite the contest photo onto a photo YOU took, you grant Improve Photography LLC and its employees, assigns, licensees, and sublicensees a license to publish your photo as part of the compilation you create in any way reasonably connected to this contest or this site, including use in a possible webinar discussing the entries.

No purchase necessary to enter.  This contest is open to contestants worldwide, but is void where prohibited by law.  You must be 18 years of age to enter.

 

Further Reading:

Post-processing
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About Jim Harmer

Landscape photographer, author of six photography instructional books, writer of daily photography tips at Improve Photography, and all around geek. follow me on Google Plus and check out my About Me page.
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50 Responses to “Edit My RAW File [Photo Contest]”

  1. Kate Feider February 2, 2013 at 3:47 PM

    I posted my edit on the Google thread… but now I can’t find it. It’s in an album in my profile but is not part of this editing contest thread. Help?

  2. Brenda Cavalcanti February 2, 2013 at 8:23 PM

    I absolutely love the contest! But I’m sad to see that there are people “getting inspired” by other’s edited photos instead of creating their own original ideas. For example, I have seen people that had already entered one photo and then deleted the old one to post another completely different one but very similar to another post (On Google+).
    I’m hoping that if it comes to a very close decision between pictures on the same style, you guys consider whoever posted the picture first. :) Thank you!

  3. Linda Irvine February 2, 2013 at 9:24 PM

    http://pinterest.com/pin/126030489544363709/

  4. Greig Terry February 3, 2013 at 4:38 AM

    G’day All, here’s my crack at the contest. Great fun, Thanks!!!
    https://plus.google.com/communities/114297162106520046430?hl=en-GB

  5. Brian R February 3, 2013 at 7:24 PM

    I dont see my comment posted, but I did pin on pinterest…at least i think I did!! hopefully I did it right and my edit is entered.

  6. Steven Love February 4, 2013 at 10:33 AM

    Your contest rules did not mention if it was amateurs only, so I hope you don’t mind a professional artist entering.

    Here is my entry; http://pinterest.com/pin/234539093066395546/

    In addition to the edit I also did an age reduction manipulation. Now your model looks like a teenager just out of high school.

    I was also wondering if I could give the free photography class to someone else if I do by some chance win.

    Thank you for any considerations.

  7. Avatar of Jim Harmer
    Jim Harmer February 4, 2013 at 12:22 PM

    @Steven Love – Photographers are photographers. Both amateurs and professionals are welcome to enter.

  8. Steven Love February 4, 2013 at 1:48 PM

    @Jim Harmer- Thank you Jim. Hope your model like the age reduction I did. ;-)

  9. MS February 5, 2013 at 9:52 PM

    I posted mine, but it is not showing up on the google+ page now? It seems like a lot of people are having that issue, but I just wanted to know if at least the moderators are able to see all the posted entries.

  10. Alicia Gresham February 5, 2013 at 10:22 PM

    Had a little to much fun playing with this! I edited 10 pics..a lovely B&W that I would have posted if I could do more! lol! I had to go with a Bright Color and Saturated with that RED HOT SHIRT! It seemed appropriate! ;) Enjoyed it…never done that before, now I see just how far you can take it with composition, etc…really anything. I will venture out into creativity next time! Thanks..lots of fun! Look forward to another and great to find your page through a friend! @Jim..I will take that class…lol! I think we all would!

  11. Alicia Gresham February 5, 2013 at 10:27 PM

    ahh..I mean Steven, I will take that class… :) I knew someone offered a class…I am just grabbing! haha! Nice to meet you guys! I usually would have NEVER done something like this, but glad I did. Really fun and insightful! Thanks again!

  12. Cathleen Daum February 6, 2013 at 3:31 AM

    Hope you get this. My re-edit.
    http://pinterest.com/pin/156359418284905194/

  13. Emiel van Zeventer February 8, 2013 at 3:45 PM

    Hello peeps,

    here’s my amateur’s edit on the raw. Hope you like it…

    Cheers
    http://pinterest.com/pin/465067098990107619/

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