SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

First, Sony has a free program you can download for editing ARW (RAW) files - Sony Image Data Converter. There is a lighting problem because 2 different light sources are in use. The blue light is, to me, the most objectionable so I removed most of it. I also corrected some of the distortion and sharpened the image slightly.

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jmt455 Loc: SE Michigan

Thanks, SonyA580.
Does the Sony Image Data Converter offer any advantages or additional functionality over the Sony Imaging Edge Editing https://creatorscloud.sony.net/catalog/en-us/ie-desktop/index.html software?
Joe

SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

Hi Joe,

A very nice night picture. There isn't a lot that i would do to this image but here are the minor tweeks that I suggest. These can be done in either LR or PS.

1) I don't see a need for any noise reduction because I didn't see much and when applying even a small amount, it tends to obscured some the fine detail in the colosseum's stone structure.

I suggest:

2) not doing anything with the multiple colored light sources, since this is artifical and is the intended lighting by the park.

3) leveling the base of the colosseum. It feels as if its leaning to the left.

4) increase the brightness of the image by about 0.5-1 stop. This just increases the contrast a little.

5) dodge the colosseum's right and left side, further emphasizing the spot lighting on the structure

6) dodge and possibly sharpen the brightly lit internal areas of the colloseum's bottom level.

7) dodge the reflections in the water to add further emphasis.

Overall, the image was a little tilted and slightly underexposed for my taste. Rather than brightening the whole image, just selective brighten (dodge) areas you want to emphasize.

Mike

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jmt455 Loc: SE Michigan

Mike,
Thank you for the feedback and the specific recommendations.
I like what you did!
Joe

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Lightroom is a powerful editing tool, and a fine choice if you want to begin learning how to edit your photos. If you're looking for something simpler, try a trial version of Luminar Neo - if you don't like it will cost you nothing.

terryMc Loc: Arizona's White Mountains

The GIMP is not capable of editing anything more than 8-bit images. Raw photos are higher than that. If you don't want Photoshop/Lightroom, try Affinity Photo 2.0. Not as capable as Camera Raw/Lightroom, but is a perpetual licence, not a subscription, and will edit your raw files.

jcryan Loc: Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

This is incorrect. The current version of GIMP supports 8, 16 & 32 bit Integer, and 16 & 32 bit Floting Point images.

jcryan Loc: Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

I am a long time user of Darktable. Here is my edit using the Scene Referred Workflow, including the Rotate and Perspective module.

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jcryan Loc: Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

There is a bit of a learning curve with Darktable. If you use it I would recommend the Bruce Williams Photography YouTube channel. As a newbie, I can recommend starting with his "noobie" series in the current release, Episodes 124-129.

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

I'm not at all familiar with the Image Editing Program but from a quick look I'd say it is more of a studio type program whereas the Image Data Converter is more specifically for RAW image editing and not so much about all of the other bells and whistles. After using the Image Data Converter I send the image as a .tiff to PhotoShop for final touch ups and resizing. There are a ton of editing programs out there, some free, some not. I'd try the free ones first to get a feeling for what is possible in photo editing. I think you are off to a good start by shooting RAW.

terryMc Loc: Arizona's White Mountains

I guess my knowledge of GIMP is outdated.

jmt455 Loc: SE Michigan

Thanks, Bill.
I'll take a look at Luminar Neo also.
Joe