Hi. For me this photo has been vexing. At any rate I thought I would post this for comments. Thanks.
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/philbach/UploadsApril2015/ArmandE_9_3_6_5x10.jpg) (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/philbach/media/UploadsApril2015/ArmandE_9_3_6_5x10.jpg.html)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/philbach/UploadsApril2015/ForBucket.jpg) (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/philbach/media/UploadsApril2015/ForBucket.jpg.html)
Phil you are doing a real nice job with this one so far.
One thing that concerns me is the bride's flowers; brides can be very particular about the flowers in their bouquet. While I can't determine what the flowers were in this particular bouquet they just don't strike me as being lilies. We may never be able to get all the details of this bouquet but I wonder if we should make a call and ask what the predominate flowers were.
I have another of the same wedding so commiserations Phil. Still very much a WIP
I have come up with a completely different colour for the grooms suit and was reasonably confident with it as the leaves under the flower in his pocket came out a natural looking green. Also a green tie. If the owner can be contacted perhaps the suit, eye and brides hair colour could be asked.
Have no idea about the flowers the bride carries, I was about to ask when you posted Phil so would appreciate any advice. Perhaps we need to finish these as a joint project, there are three from the same wedding and I think two of the prints are from the same negative?
Athol
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s145/atholg/ArmandE_9_2_6_75x10%20WIP%202%20copy%202_zpsiwxnd7fv.jpg) (http://s151.photobucket.com/user/atholg/media/ArmandE_9_2_6_75x10%20WIP%202%20copy%202_zpsiwxnd7fv.jpg.html)
Well thanks both of you. The color of the suit that I got initially was sort of a brown similar to your color. I guessed that a more likely color for the groom would be black. So I changed it to black. The bridal bouquet is pretty much of a mystery for me.
Phil and Athol, I looked through the originals and I think you both have the same photo as far as the setting, but different variations of damage for the (3) 8 x 10s. No sure on the groom's jacket, but will try to find out. I do think the bride is a brunette. On the flowers I would do away with all the ruffled area straight down from the bride's hand and to your left. Phil, it looks strange to add flowers that are so sharp that you can tell they came from another source. Instead I would do like Athol with a hint of what they were, but get rid of the ruffled area as I think that was tears and damage to the photo rather that part of the bouquet.
Margie
Phil and Athol, I talked to the owner and Phil is correct that the groom's jacket is black. I think maybe the ink contaminated the photos and prevented being able to color correct the normal way. Also, on Athol's I noticed it looked liked she had gloves on one hand and bare on the other. Phil has both bare and that is correct. However, her sleeves were long. Now we come to the hair, she said she had dark hair close to black, but not coal black. I also told the owner, that the bouquet was too far gone on part of the photo and that we would do what we could and for the really bad part, fill in with her dress.
One thing I found interesting was that if I took the original and changed in to B/W with the "Infrared" setting; I got a good view of the detail, especially the bride's face. After that I duplicated the layer and changed to "Multiply" mode and reduced the opacity.
Kudos to both of you for taking this restore on!
Margie
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z10/hayesbucket/ArmandE_9_zpsaslngecb.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/user/hayesbucket/media/ArmandE_9_zpsaslngecb.jpg.html)
Thanks, Margie. Very Helpful. Right now I am out of town so I won't be able to upgrade for a few more days. That is interesting about the b&w conversion using infra red. Always something new to learn and try.
Phil you're welcome, however using the infra-red in the pull down menu for B/W is rarely my choice, but this time it worked out the best. Depending on the damage usually the choice is the red or blue filter. If I want to see what will give the best definition, I scroll down through the choices and look at the preview for each one.
Margie
Thanks Margie, I have had another go at it and have the suit and hair sorted out. Next her dress as you suggested
Infrared as part of the B/W conversion sounds different, beginning to think that a CC upgrade might be worthwhile
Athol
Athol, you don't need CC, make a B/W Adjustment Layer then in the Preset pull down menu you will find Infrared.
Hannie
Athol, Hannie is right and I should have been more specific about the B/W Adjustment Layer. I am on CS5 and like Hannie pointed out there is a pull down menu within which gives you many choices for the B/W.
Margie
Well I did away with the flowers and slightly lowered the saturation on this latest version
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/philbach/UploadsApril2015/ForRetouch.jpg) (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/philbach/media/UploadsApril2015/ForRetouch.jpg.html)
Phil, this is a tough one, especially her bridal bouquet. I'm not sure what you have on your right of the flowers is flowers, ribbons, etc. I still think it could be damage or tears in the photos. The way it is now looks doesn't look right. Also, the flowers are now taller and come up to her other hand where before they were below. I know, unless one of the other shots, has a better view that it will be close to impossible to come up with original. I would be tempted to use the flowers from Athol restore, but only the right half. I would replace the other half with her dress. This isn't great but the eye knows they are flowers, but not to the point they draw too much attention. Otherwise, much improved.
(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z10/hayesbucket/bouquet_zpsxrqa6vlw.jpg) (http://s192.photobucket.com/user/hayesbucket/media/bouquet_zpsxrqa6vlw.jpg.html)
Margie
Thanks, Margie.
Back after a couple of weeks school holidays and lots of time with the grandkids.
There are three restores that look like one camera shot. If you compare where the diagonal shadow crosses the door in the background you can see they are all different even though the poses are almost identical.
I am working on the widest image, 6.75ins and Phil appears to have the 6.5ins wide version. No idea why they have all been cropped to different widths.
I have attached my current WIP, there are lots of layers so edges are a bit rough, I have to finish the brides face and veil and do a final adjustment of levels and colour. Appreciate any input as always
Athol
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s145/atholg/ArmandE_9_2_6_75x10%20WIP%203%20copy_zpspqi5qw45.jpg) (http://s151.photobucket.com/user/atholg/media/ArmandE_9_2_6_75x10%20WIP%203%20copy_zpspqi5qw45.jpg.html)
Looks great Athol! I was wondering, since the flowers are such a hopeless mass (not your fault - there's nothing work with), if it might help to take a like of the green color from the groom's boutonniere and add it to the shadows in the flowers to give just a hint of definition without trying to actually outline any flowers. Or maybe it would be better to eliminate them altogether since they distract from an otherwise great restoration.
This topic is fun to follow, of course I have to have my 2 bits in as well!
I believe the ribbons are part of the bouquet and not damage, still they look a little off, don't they? I like Tori's suggestion of adding the green to the bouquet some.
I used a bouquet from another photo (oh no) and placed it with less opacity so that the ribbons would still show a little.
One more thing that jumped out at me is the bride's face can use a few highlights. I tried to do that in my example.
Great job everyone!
Hannie
PS
I am wondering if the bride placed her little crown too much to the right intentionally? :)
(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb18/marijtje2/OPR/athol2.jpg) (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/marijtje2/media/OPR/athol2.jpg.html)
Hannie, the bouquet looks really nice and the ribbons this way don't look so weird. This has been a fun trip.
Margie
Thanks Girls :wow: (surely worth some brownie points!)
You both bring up an excellent suggestion, even more so in that it hasn't attracted the wrath of SWMBO. I am still searching for something suitable and may get you to point me at the image you used Hannie.
Looking to add some definition to the brides face as you suggest Hannie. The best results seem to need hue and saturation adjustment as well so back to Restoration and Retouching to refresh the grey matter.
Athol
Hannie, I haven't been able to find a bouquet that works as well as the one you suggested. I have just copied it from your post and as you had blurred it I suspect the quality is OK. If you can direct me to the original I will do a comparison.
I have added some highlights and a bit of colour to her cheeks as well as adding a small amount of noise. I did attempt to do a complete recolour using a number of different approaches but I obviously need more practice
Athol
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s145/atholg/ArmandE_9_2_6_75x10%20WIP%204%20copy_zpsiofk6ikh.jpg) (http://s151.photobucket.com/user/atholg/media/ArmandE_9_2_6_75x10%20WIP%204%20copy_zpsiofk6ikh.jpg.html)
Athiol that looks good.
Here is the Original bouquet. I did not blur it, instead I lowered the opacity. Not sure any more if I added a clipping mask curves layer as well.
(http://41.media.tumblr.com/09e0c42e18eb88db86fc06009fb3dfdd/tumblr_nqc8m9ARYp1u5orjko2_r1_400.jpg)
Hannie
Thanks Hannie,
I removed most of the colour except the green and enlarged it as the original flowers looked larger. Much better flowers than I had found.
I think that is about it, tried to get some smile into her mouth so let me know
Athol
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s145/atholg/ArmandE_9_2_6_75x10%20WIP%205%20copy_zpscazuijmp.jpg) (http://s151.photobucket.com/user/atholg/media/ArmandE_9_2_6_75x10%20WIP%205%20copy_zpscazuijmp.jpg.html)
That's looking great!
Like what you did with the flowers, great job!
Her teeth can use some shading near the corners of her mouth?
Hannie
Added the shading and sent it on its way
Thanks all
Athol