Last weekend I showed you some photos that I changed with ON1 Photo Raw 2025 and today I have another one.
Most of the photos I’ve shown you from Wanaka of That Tree were taken on our second morning there, but we did go and check out the tree the day before. We got there after everyone else and ended up somewhere not ideal, if you ask me. Still, looking at these now, some of them are really nice.
So I played around with some of the sunflares and sunshine apps in On1 and this is what I got.
It is hard to know if it really made a difference without looking at the original, so let’s do that.
I straightened the horizon and I cropped it a bit to get rid of some of the foreground water. Besides the basic editing I then used a preset from ON1 and some of the effects to help give it the final look.
Unlike other images from this area that I have shown from the original above, you can see that the sun was rising in that spot. When I added the sunflare and sunshine, it was done in the right place and makes it more believable, especially for people who know the area and how the sun rises there.
I like the processed photo because it gives you more light and lightens the image a lot more. I think the colours in it are warmer and nicer to look at it. The mist that was hanging over the top of the water also stands out a lot more.
I quite like this one, but then I wondered if I could reproduce the same or similar image in Affinity Photo 2. I tried lots of things and here is my first attempt.
I didn’t really like this, so I tried some other stuff and got this.
I think the second one is closer, but the sunrise is a bit blown out. It wasn’t easy to do and I think I spent almost a whole day on this. I didn’t achieve the same thing, but it is fairly close.
Here is a gallery so you can look at them without distractions.
So beautiful and mysterious!
Thank you Phil.
My pleasure!
☺️☺️
All are interesting, but I like the first Affinity the best. The reason is that I think the tree should really be the main focus of the image. In that first Affinity, the tree captures the light in a distinctive and pleasurable way. Also the light on the water in that one is the best. Do you work with Levels? I think adjusting levels is a way to improve exposure while keeping the sunlight from blowing out the image.
I like your observations Joanne. I think they are all interesting. No I don’t use levels much, I don’t like the way it works, I prefer other things instead. Thank you Joanne.
Nicely done, Leanne..and kudos for being so persistent!
Thank you Sue, patience is something I don’t normally have, but for some things . . .
Lovely shots once again!
Thank you Sharon.
I remember that tree well, Same but so different.
It is different now, damaged. Thank you Geoff.
Dreamy colors!
Thank you Egidio.
Beautiful edits Leanne, especially that first one 😲
Thank you Sarah.
Very beautiful 👌
Thank you.
Although I like the original best, I think your exercise of doing different edits is a great idea. I need to start that just to build my skill level.
Thank you Anne, it is a great way to learn. I think that is something I like about the one four you learn a lot.
A tree that keeps on giving with beauty each time. So wonderful Leanne
That’s for sure, thanks Brian.
I’m going with the last one, but all look beatify because of the setting
That’s great Beth, thank you.
I like the one posted in your header best. It’s beautiful.
That is the ON1 version, thank you Lynette.
The ON1 is my favorite. Really stunning Leanne.
That’s great Nicci, thank you.
Stunning photos Leanne and your processing was interesting to see
Thank you Kate, glad you liked it.
It’s actually kind of amazing just how many different versions you can create with software alone, isn’t it? It really shows how powerful software editing can be—one original, endless variations. And everyone’s taste is a bit different, so it’s always useful to have options. Personally, I think the more colourful and punchy “1st attempt Affinity Photo 2” is the winner for me—just feels right. Either way, a great experiment!
All the best, and have a great weekend,
Marc
That is very true Marc, it is amazing. It is amazing too because you can process the image and then a year or two do it again and it will look different. That’s for sure about everyone’s taste. Thank you so much Marc.
Not bad!
Thank you Ziggy.
It sort of leaves me scratching my head. I’ve done the same comparisons with on1 and LR/PS. So far I can’t match the two. This process is showing me all the nitpicking that goes on in the background with Adobe products. I’m convinced that using the masking magic in on1 will make all the difference- one I get it down. 😏We’ll see.
Onward and upward, Leanne.
Masks are amazing, I have been using them for years and years. You can never go wrong with a mask. I don’t know that I would compare ON1 with PS, I think PS is a more superior program, but for quick edits and such I love it. Thanks Michael.
It is such a beautiful scene, Leanne. It looks good every which way.
Thank you so much Lois.