Let’s talk about rejection this week. Don’t panic! I mean rejected photos, of course. With the low cost of cloud storage and external drives, I rarely delete an image, even if it’s blurry or has a less-than-ideal composition. Furthermore, I have experienced that advances in photography editing software continue to evolve dramatically. You may have images that you have rejected at first, but they’re still in your archives. So, this week’s challenge is all about rejected photos. A bad photo can sometimes be “rescued” and made more presentable. Take a look again at a few of the photos you haven’t published yet and see what you can do to bring them out of the archives.
If a photo is not good at first sight, there are several things one can do to create something new and, perhaps, more appealing than the original. For example, you can add grain, distort colors, apply film simulations, convert to monochrome, apply filters, create a dreamscape, and so on.
You can see the difference between the featured image and its original. By creating a dreamscape from a bland, soft original, I rescued an otherwise rejected photo. I created the dreamscape in Photoshop and fine-tuned it in Luminar Neo, adding a fog filter.
Here are four other examples rescued from my archives.
This photo is from 2004 and was originally just about 1 MP. I first upscaled the image in Topaz Photo and then converted it to monochrome in Lightroom. I experimented with several monochrome shades and chose the one above for its metal look. I also punched the textures on the leaves. The original file is on the left.
Here’s another low-resolution image from 2007. The composition was bad to start with (see original on the right), but I knew that rocks have textures. So, that was my starting point. I cropped the photo to focus on the larger rock on the left. I applied an old canvas texture in Topaz Studio. Immediately, the image had more detail. You can find free textures easily online. You can also create your own textures by photographing a tree trunk, rocks, or a stream and using those as layers for your image. I finished the edits in Lightroom and applied sharpening in Topaz Photo.
This photo was not in focus at all, as you can see in the image on the right. I was trying to capture the cyclist going over the fence, but my shutter speed was not correct. Instead of rejecting the photo, I played with what I had. I added blur and motion on Luminar Neo, surrounding the subject to trick the viewer’s eye. The cyclist gained more presence, sharpness, and movement. Final editing touches were done in Lightroom.
For this last example, the flower was just not very impressive. I was shooting it from various angles to see what I liked best. When I saw this image, I noticed that the angle made it look like only half a flower. That made the image a good candidate for mirroring. To do that, I used Photoshop. Then, I superimposed it onto the original photo. After that, I finished the edits in Lightroom by turning the photo upside down to evoke a lampshade.
Whenever you think you might reject a photo, think twice. There are always things you can add to make it a new artistic rendition of your work. You can use whatever software you like and whatever sparks your creativity. Again, here’s a summary of what you can do to a flawed image:
- Create a dreamscape;
- Add textures;
- Distort colors;
- Create mirror image composites;
- Convert to monochrome;
- Add filters (e.g., blur);
- Apply film simulations;
- Distort the image to create an abstract;
- And more!
I am curious about how you handle rejected photos. If you do not trash them, can you show us some examples of how you rescued a rejected image?
Thanks for the great photos you shared last week in response to Ritva’s Minimalism and Black-and-White Photography challenge. I hope you will join me this week. Don’t forget to use the “lens-artists” hashtag in your posts to help people find your wonderful challenge entries.
Next week, Tina returns to close out January with a new challenge. It will go live at noon EST in the USA. Tune in to find out more about the challenge then. Please see this page for more information about the Lens-Artists Challenge and its history.
That is the story behind the shots. If you liked this post, you may also be interested in others featuring Abstracts, Bastrop SP, Landscapes, Lens-Artists, Macros, Parks, Sports, and Texas. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.
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Rebecca Cuningham
Thanks, Egídio. I continue to learn so much from the lens-artist challenges and from visiting the friends of the challenge. Here are my resurrected photos: https://fakeflamenco.com/2026/01/31/rejected-without-a-crop-or-tweak/
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Rebecca. Learning is a two-way street. I always learn new things from these challenges. I loved your response and left a note in your post.
Rebecca Cuningham
Thank you, Egídio. You are a very kind host, I appreciate your comments here and on my site. I feel a real sense of community with the lens-artists because they are so welcoming. I appreciate that very much.
Egidio Leitao
You’re welcome, Rebecca.
Rupali
A great challenge for the week and your examples truely speak of your talent.
I don’t have any photo softwares on my machine. I do not own my pc. The idea behind my 365 day photo challenge is spending time with my hard drives and delete what I don’t want to share. My decluttering project for 2026.
Egidio Leitao
Rupali, thank you for your strong complimentary words. I really appreciate that.
Rupali
🙏
Trash? Or Transform? – Batz Gallery
Pingback: […] More of the Lens-Artists Challenge: Rejected. […]
norasphotos4u
Great topic – here’s mine for the week
https://norasphotos4u.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/lens-artists-rejected/
Egidio Leitao
Thanks so much, Nora. I appreciate your feedback and link.
Imelda Santore
Gorgeous edits!
Thanks for the challenge.
I am glad to join in.
https://mywordwall.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/after-the-big-snow/
Egidio Leitao
Imelda, many thanks for the kind words and your link. I’ll comment there.
Lens-Artists Photo Challange 382: ” Rejected” – MyBlog – solaner
Pingback: […] You can publish your images on your blog and set a link to the inspirational post posted by Egídio. Don’t forget to tag it with LENS-ARTIST, so we can find it. I hope, finally, Automattic has […]
solaner
the foggy day works very well, Egídio, and I also love the bw-edit of the plant.
you can find my contribution here: https://solaner.wordpress.com/2026/01/29/lens-artists-photo-challange-382-rejected/
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for this feedback, André. I’ll leave my remark in your post.
Rejection and Excuses – Nes Felicio Photography
Pingback: […] week, Egidio throws a Lens Artists challenge that I found intriguing. “Let’s talk about rejection,” he […]
Leya
Love this challenge, Egidio – and what you did with your photos. The fog is great, steel cold cool, the biker even cooler. The flower is exremely well changed for the better, but I could never have achieved that! Well done and good lessons for us!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Ann-Christine.
Albatz Travel Adventures
Love the fog filter – I don’t have anything like it but it certainly adds a certain ‘je ne sais pas’ quality to your forest photo. Your steel blue plant is electric – wow!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Elizabeth.
Lindy Le Coq
Your photo images are all stunning. I especially like Steel Cold and Cuts Like a Rock. Here is my offering for this week’s challenge. https://lindylecoq.com/2026/01/28/lens-artists-challenge-382-rejected/
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Lindy. Steel Cold seems to be everyone’s favorite, and mine, too.
LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #382 – REJECTED – A Moment in Time
Pingback: […] I did nothing much in the last couple of days in terms of photo library restructuring and filing, so today, after the cool change overnight, I can spare some time (and energy) to reading Egidio’s challenge this week – REJECTED.- (details of which you can find here) […]
Grammy Writes
https://grammywrites.blog/2026/01/27/a-few-tweaks/
Egidio Leitao
Thank you for sharing the link.
Grammy Writes
I may have to find a software that does dreamscape – love it!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you so much for your feedback.
2025 photo bloopers: LAPC - bend branches
Pingback: […] Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Rejected […]
Lens-Artist Challenge: Rejected – Joe & Julie's Journal
Pingback: […] weeks challenge is from Egidio with the subject of rescuing rejected photos. Once I download photos I go thru and delete all the […]
LENS-ARTISTS CHALLENGE #382 : Rejected – John's Space …..
Pingback: […] Egidio leads this week. […]
Rejects to Memories | The Day After
Pingback: […] Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Rejected […]
Tina Schell
I must admit Egidio, this one falls under the phrase “showing your underwear”! That said I expect a very interesting week and your post has set the bar for all of us. I loved all of your edits and must admit you’re way ahead of me with these skills. You have a great eye and take the time to visit places that offer excellent opportunities, but it is only combining those two things with a real talent for seeing an image’s potential that makes you a true artist. Kudos!!
Egidio Leitao
Tina, I think when it comes to photography, I’m getting more comfortable showing my underwear. I realize that in landscape photography (my passion), I seldom get the weather I want. So, with the opening shot, for example, I created what I wanted to have seen. I am becoming a better editor than photographer. Your closing paragraph is very rewarding for me. Thanks for this heart-warming feedback.
Giving the second chance photos a turn for Lens-Artists Challenge #382 – LEANNE COLE
Pingback: […] was an interesting challenge thisweek, set for us by Egidio from Through Brazilian Eyes, and not one I was sure I was going to do. That is not because I thought it was bad, but it did […]
tgeriatrix
I love your photo “steel cold”. It is so different from the original one.
Here is my contribution:
https://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2026/01/26/rejected/
Egidio Leitao
Thank you very much, TG. Steel cold seems to be everyone’s favorite.
Rejected – Geriatri'x' Fotogallery
Pingback: […] LensArtists Photo Challenge: rejected […]
Leanne Cole
Very interesting challenge this week Egidio. You have given us some great examples, I love what you have done with them, especially the first one. I took some inspiration from your post, so thanks for the idea.
Egidio Leitao
Oh, Leanne, these are great words to see. Thanks for your feedback. I appreciated that.
Teresa
What a wonderful process to get the image that’s amazing. Here is mine https://wanderingteresa.com/almost-deleted/
Egidio Leitao
Thanks a bunch, Teresa. I’m glad you found this interesting. I’ll read your post right away.
Almost Deleted – Wandering Teresa
Pingback: […] I often find myself drawn to the rejects in photography—the frames that didn’t quite make the cut. The ones that are slightly off, imperfect, or overlooked. Sometimes it’s in these discarded moments where the real story lives: a raw expression, an honest haze, a feeling that wasn’t planned. They may not be technically perfect, but they’re real—and that’s what makes them special. So here is my take on the challenge from Egidio with the theme of Rejected. […]
klh048
Excellent and interesting topic for the challenge. We sometimes have a photographic “story” in mind when there might be a better one, or different one, trying to get our attention from the rejected images. I enjoyed your examples and how you explored the different stories inside the rejected ones. My posting is here… https://klh048.wordpress.com/2026/01/25/lens-artist-challenge-382-rejected/
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for this interesting feedback. Sometimes I can’t quite get what my eyes see. Revisiting those images allow me to find a different way to express myself. I appreciate your comments and the link, too.
Lens-Artist Challenge #382 Rejected | The View From Here
Pingback: […] The second look is sometimes more fulfilling than the first. Our challenge this week is offered by Egidio as an exploration of the rejected […]
Klausbernd
Dear Egidio
We find some of the rejected pictures better than the later edited ones.
Thanks for showing
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Egídio
Thank you so much for writing. I appreciate the feedback.
Toonsarah
What an interesting idea for a challenge! I like what you’ve done with that flower and the leaves are very effective, but my favourite of your edits has to be the first one – you’ve created so much atmosphere!
I’ve had fun over the weekend playing with some of my own rejected shots and here’s the result: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/gallery-rescuing-the-rejects/
Egidio Leitao
Sarah, that flower is getting a thumbs-up from everyone it seems. As I said to others, I was also quite surprised with the result. Thank you very much for your feedback and link.
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
This is such a great idea for a theme, also an educational one. These are lovely edits, you do the theme you came up with credit. Here are mine: https://sillarit.com/2026/01/25/lens-artists-challenge-382-rejected/
Egidio Leitao
Ritva, thank you for the reassurance about the theme.
Pamela Zmija Photography
Egidio this was such an inspiring theme for this week! Here is my input https://yourlifeasartphotography.com/2026/01/25/lens-artists-challenge-382-rejected/
Egidio Leitao
Your words are much appreciated, Pam. Thanks a million.
photobyjohnbo
Egidio, I’m going to love this theme. Steel Cold is my favorite, but the conversion in Dynamic is something I’d like to try.
Egidio Leitao
John, I can hardly wait for your photos. I know you like editing a lot. So, you’ll have plenty of surprises. Thanks for writing.
photobyjohnbo
I am doing some new edits, but some were “fixed” when I first edited them years ago. >grin<
Great challenge, I’m photo editing rather than writing a post so far this weekend.
Pamela Zmija Photography
Beautiful collection and such a thought provoking theme as well! Your Steel Cold is a fav!!!
Egidio Leitao
Pamela, I’m happy you liked the challenge. The Steel Cold was the biggest surprise for me. I really liked it in the end.
robert heft
A wonderful selection of pictures you chose for the challenge, Egidio. I especially like the second and fifth ones.
Here is my contribution to the challenge, https://wp.me/pfnz9O-ZZ.
Many greetings, Robert
Egidio Leitao
Robert, I appreciate the feedback and link for your post. I’ll comment there.
lens-artists photo challenge – rejected – photo robert blog 3
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Steve Schwartzman
Another reason to look back through old pictures is that there may be good images the photographer has forgotten about. The probability of that gets higher if the photographer took a lot of pictures over a short period and just didn’t have the time to deal with all of them.
Egidio Leitao
You make an excellent point about looking back. I take too many pictures when traveling and seldom have time to edit them all. I appreciate the feedback.
Stupidity Hole
Nice work here, and good explanation, too. It’s great as you’ve kept it all straightforward, which is what everything needed to be.
Here’s mine for this one. Bit more “Would not normally share something like this” than anything else:
https://stupidityhole.com/2026/01/25/beach-somewhere/
Egidio Leitao
I appreciate your feedback, SH. Thank you very much.
eklastic
I love the idea of the challenge! And your examples. The black and white plant is beautifully enhanced. And I love the cyclists. It’s more unusual way to rescue a photo.
I concentrated on one subject for this challenge: https://picturesimperfectblog.com/2026/01/25/a-rejected-angel/
Egidio Leitao
Thank you so much, Elke. I appreciate the link, too. I’ll check out your post right away.
eklastic
My pings have not been pinging reliably for the last week or so.
Egidio Leitao
WP can also be the problem. Sometimes, pings work for me and sometimes not.
JohnRH
Great theme, great examples. LOVE that leaf!!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, John. That leaf surprised me, too.
JohnRH
Mine: https://fairplay740.wordpress.com/2026/01/26/lens-artists-challenge-382-rejected/
Egidio Leitao
Thank you so much. I left my comments in your post.
aekshots
Some very nice rescues Egidio. Love what you did with the cyclist and the steel cold shots. Well done!
Egidio Leitao
Thank you very much, Andy. I was very surprised with the steel cold edit, too.
Lens Artists Photo Challenge #382 – Rejected | AEKShots
Pingback: […] to Egidio for the photo challenge theme this […]
Dawn M. Miller
If we keep the thousands of shots we already keep, like the 15 VERY similar pictures I recently took of a deer, and didn’t delete any of them, and then we also keep blurry ones ones, does that makes us photo hoarders?
Asking for a friend. 🙂
Egidio Leitao
I’m a proud card-carrying hoarder when it comes to photos. Instead of going through 15 similar shots to figure out which one is better, I simply save them all. Your “friend” does have a very good point about why save the other 14 shots.
Dawn M. Miller
She may have a problem. lol
BTW, I love that steel cold leaf.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Dawn. That steel cold edit was the most surprising to me. I had no idea I could transform the original shot into something I really like. I bet your friend is bound to have a photo or two hiding in her catalog that has never been published because it was initially rejected.
Pepper
These are wonderful! Makes me regret deleted a lot of mine that I wasn’t happy with.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you so much, Pepper.
Lens-Artists Challenge #382 – Rejected | Travels and Trifles
Pingback: […] work that goes into creating an image we’re willing to share. Be sure to visit his original here, and to use the Lens-Artist Tag in your response to help us find you. Our thanks to those who […]
restlessjo
Egidio, I regard what you do with failed images little short of genius. I don’t have any talents in that direction and I don’t spend money on editing software. If my computer software can’t enhance my photos very simply I delete them, and that partly has to do with the issue of storage. Our priorities are very different but I’m a great admirer of what you do xx
Egidio Leitao
Thank you so much for this compliment, Jo. xx
Terri Webster Schrandt
Great idea this week, Egidio! I tend to keep mistakes too. As you write, they can be edited into better, or, I’ve used fuzzy images as backdrops for other uses.
Egidio Leitao
Yes, using those images as a textured layer is a great idea. Thanks.
Sofia Alves
This is a cool challenge, Egídio and your examples, alongside the explanations, are all we need to have a go at it. Love your first two, youe editing really worked magic on them, especially the forest one!
Here is mine:
https://photographias.wordpress.com/2026/01/24/lens-artists-challenge-rejected/
Egidio Leitao
Thanks for the feedback and link, Sofia. I loved your response.
Lens-Artists Challenge – Rejected – photographias
Pingback: […] Posted for Egídio’s Lens-Artists Challenge […]
Wandering Dawgs
Egidio, you worked magic with your editing techniques to create these final images. Thanks for explaining how you edited each one. The steel cold is my favorite. I also like what you did with the cyclist and with the flower. Thanks for a great challenge!
Egidio Leitao
Beth, many thanks for your feedback. In the end, the steel cold edit surprised me. I simply wanted to turn something blah into a different piece.