RAW out of the camera, converted using DPP into 8 bit tiff, then edited in photoshop.
I also used noise ninja for the first time.
(2nd pic didn't have the noise ninja filter applied)
I used the unsharp mask. But it just made it look really bad.
So I decreased the unsharp mask a bit, and reposted the pic.
Tried a few more things, and reposted, and didn't look any better.
Tried something else (another filter) and it made it look an anime cartoon. So I decreased that filter a little and used the burn tool to make the wall in the background look a bit more "dirty anime".
Then I softened the edges of the water, softened and lightened, also to increase that drawn on look.
I don't know. I still don't like it. But eh, it's all a learning process.
The picture you see now on both ap and here is the 4th edit I've done.
I have a feeling that the extra softness in the first pic might be due to noise ninja. But then again, all my fricken shots are turning out soft.
My mate is going to bring around his kit lens later. I'll take some shots with that and see if it's any different.
To be honest I'm sick of the kit lens. I might just go out and buy a 50mm f1.4 prime and use that as a replacement to the kit lens.