on the first one I did a more "complicated" procedure:
1-stretch RGB (BG)
2-dup, set to SoftLight (Layer 1)
3-dup, Applied LumaInvert (Layer 2)
4-applied Freaky detail on Layer 1
5-applied G'mic Mixer(Lab): B contrast to 3.12, B brightness to -1.60
6-cut the image to have it more "horizontal
here the outcome:



not fully satisfactory

David and Dinasset, nice results of yours. For me who is learning some photographic methods, find them very interesting. I can't take any risk yet on photos and try to go to more reliable steps. My question for you experts, why do I get a white halo around some objects when applying effects? How do you avoid this defect on your results?
I've tried to repair it on the chair, but I see it yet.

Issabella, normally is the ToneMapping which generates white border halos

My interpretation on this one:

iarga, I like your result keeping the real atmosphere but getting details out. Nice.
I did a second try on the arch picture. I think this one is better than in my first try. But if not, tell me please.
Thank you Dinasset for your help.

My second try on the chair picture. I didn't use Tone Map)

With continuous droste:

iarga, you gave it an innovative version.

Here's something different for you to try, taken this morning - a dark subject with a bright sky.

A Jackdaw preparing to have breakfast on my bird-feeder:



It's one I discarded from this collection: http://www.23hq.com/paynekj/2016-05-15

Kevin

Thank you very much paynekj. It's a very nice photography, and you a good photographer.

Here is my try, Kevin.



edit: image replaced after Ofnuts' indications

My Take:

second try, with a bit more detail on the bird



edit: image replaced after Ofnuts' indications

Where does it come from? The greenery in the background doesn't seem to be its natural habitat... Any cliffs? Old tower? I once had a few visiting the primary school yard next to my apartment building(*) but they came from a stopped construction in the neighbourhood.

(*) lots of food for them after a day of classes

and here my third one
let me call it "free-style artistic manipulation"
(big words....just to say: used a gradient)



edit: image replaced after Ofnuts' indications

This hurts... You can't have a land background blurred because it's out of focus together with sharp clouds. Maybe something can be attempted to "fix" the washed out sky, but it should be as blurry as the rest.

Being single-track-minded lately:)

The jackdaw is very popular!
Here is my try. I made a mask to separate the bird from the background so that I could try and get more detail in the feathers (using curves).
Then overlayed the background with a black layer to subdue it.

david.

I wanted to do my try, too. But seen very good results above.

Here's the local scenery:
(10 photos quickly taken out of the window and stitched using Hugin)

There is a quarry beyond the building in the distance on the left, but the jackdaws would have to be brave to live there given how often the quarry uses explosives

Thanks for all your interpretations. I have to say I find it a bit uncomfortable seeing the over-saturated colours, but that's just my taste - I definitely incline to more muted tones most of the time

Kevin