Here's another photo challenge. Take a lack-luster sunrise (Angkor Wat, Cambodia here) or sunset scene and turn it into a dramatic sunrise or sunset shot.

Use Nik HDR Efex Pro or Photomatix to create your HDR negative, and then use Nik Color Efex Pro to add color and contrast to the scene. Here I used the Tonal Contrast a Bi-Color filter in Nik Color Efex Pro.

As a final step, crop the crap.... boring parts of the scene that take away from the impact of your image.

In fact, you can have a secondary goal: Create an image with impact.

I look forward to seeing your before-and-after results. You can post your before-and-after images in my Photo Challenges Google+ community.

Good luck and have fun.

All the plug-ins I use are listed here.

I teach image processing on all my workshops.

Explore the light,
Rick

Want to find the best light on a workshop? Check out my latest app for your iPhone and iPad running iOS 6 or greater: Rick Sammon's Photo Sundial – the all-in-one app that gives you the sun, the stars, the moon - and much more. Never miss another sunrise or sunset again.

The app is great for on-site shooting, as well as for trip planning. Twenty-five photo tips, too!

Hey, if you find a better priced and more fully-featured sun-finder app, please let me know.

Here's a movie I made on photographing sunrises and sunsets.