This was captured on color negative film and scanned to a digital image. I did the original work on it about three years ago but it looked too bold and busy for even my taste
After the scanning I worked the image in the curve mode to get the look I wanted The procedure I use is hard to explain as I keep canceling out of the curve box to go back and alter a color or change a highlight or shadow, sometimes I can spend 3-4 hours and then hit revert and walk away from the image. The only reason that I mention this is to say if you don't see what you want from the curve mode don't give up there are plenty of options.
After looking at this overly bold busy image, I decided to give it a water color look to soften it up by erasing the edges with a brush that looked like a Brillo pad. It has the look of the Caribbean islands but it was taken at John's Pass Florida which claims to be a ''small drinking village with a fishing problem".