About 99% of the photographs I take and publish are not edited in Photoshop in any way. I use RAW format, so Photoshop spits out the jpegs, but I try to keep them "pure" and original.
However, sometimes I think maybe I'm missing a trick or two. I wanted to give advice, and hopefully get some back about making images "pop" a little more. Sometimes you see photos and the contrast and spectrum of colour is amazing, and you just now a lot is done in "post production" (or "they cheated" as some might put it).
Here's a few attempts at making the original image here stand out a bit, without looking too 'fake'.
Original:
Adjusting levels in Photoshop:
Using the "unsharp mask" in Photoshop:
Both images also use the vignette effect I discussed elsewhere on here.
Any other tips?
For "unsharp mask", just google "unsharp mask" photoshop pop and you should find hints and tips (eg:
Digital Horizons: Sharpening Techniques | Outdoorphotographer.com), also use "adjust levels" photoshop pop to find hints on that. Far better advice out there than I can give here.