After downloading from the gallery and opening the file many times new problems arise. Enclosed is the original and a black and white conversion using the blue channel. The problem is that the right forearm is not to be seen. I suspect its behind this lady but would like some advice before proceeding. However maybe she is pointing towards the camera like an example I posted Thanks.
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/philbach/BonvillianM_16_16_3_25x6_25.jpg) (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/philbach/media/BonvillianM_16_16_3_25x6_25.jpg.html)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/philbach/RightHand.jpg) (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/philbach/media/RightHand.jpg.html)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/philbach/Righthandforward.jpg) (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/philbach/media/Righthandforward.jpg.html)
Hi Phil.
I think that your first inkling was right and that the lower part of the arm is behind the lady.
Hannie
(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb18/marijtje2/OPR/BonvillianM_16_16_3.jpg) (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/marijtje2/media/OPR/BonvillianM_16_16_3.jpg.html)
Thanks Hannie.
I beg to differ. It's somewhat like the reference photo, except that she's holding something, perhaps barbells(?). Ladies of that era dressed up to exercise particularly if they were demonstrating something.
OTOH, Phil is to be congratulated on taking this one on. It's a bear.
I could see the possibility of the arm being in front, possibly bent. If she's holding something it's more likely to be a fan. Perhaps the owner might know.
I vote behind her back. Do you see the mysterious face???
(http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm81/kiskaopr/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-25%20at%208.05.07%20AM_zps1wuaaqpf.png) (http://s294.photobucket.com/user/kiskaopr/media/Screen%20Shot%202016-01-25%20at%208.05.07%20AM_zps1wuaaqpf.png.html)
Yes the face is mysterious. Well I believe I will do behind the back. She is turned some to her left and her hand behind might create symmetry with her raised left arm.
Well I placed her arm behind the back and at present I am deciding what to do about the background. The question is what to do about it. On the right is a portion of an object that looks like a carved wicker chair of some kind. Should I leave it in and place a floor under it or just pretend it isn't there.
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/philbach/Initial.jpg) (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/philbach/media/Initial.jpg.html)
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/philbach/BackgroundLady.jpg) (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/philbach/media/BackgroundLady.jpg.html)
I would leave the object in the back on the right. It's fascinating and is likely meaningful to the family.
Since we have no way of knowing what she was holding or the position of the arm; I vote behind her back or as you have it now. However, her arm needs to be a lot slimmer. The other thing that bothered me is that her head now looks like it doesn't belong and I think part of the problem is not having shadowing on the face. Towards your left and the right side of her face should have more shadows instead of making the whole face the same with no depth. I wonder if the other hand was playing with her hair?
Margie
P.S. Don't you recognize the mysterious head? It's E.T.
Thanks, Tori and Margie. At this stage I thought I would place a background and finish up on the subject. I guess that object on the right side of the photo is a chair of some kind. I think her hair is a "bun" style of some kind.
Hi Phil,
This is such a tough restore! Yes, her hair is in a bun, like this (but without the loose strands):
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/vgraphica/bun_zpsprpe6i89.jpg) (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/vgraphica/media/bun_zpsprpe6i89.jpg.html)
But I don't think the background object is a chair. The damage in the lower part may look like an angle, but I think the object is upright, perhaps a statue or pillar. Perhaps you can restore the detail in the carving where you can see it, and hide the rest in shadow.
Tori
Thanks Tori. The background is a struggle. That will be tomorrow's project. I did get sort of set on the object being a chair and I will look at it differently. It would be nice to know where the ground plane is. I don't think she is leaning on the "pillar" Oh well. I usually work on these in the morning when I am fresh.
Great job on the hair Phil.
Margie's suggestion about her head looking a little odd may also be because the ruffle around the neck can be extended a tiny bit. I duplicated the Original photo over your work and added some fabric around her neck an on her left shoulder. Also I extended her right jaw line some, hope this helps.
Hannie
(http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb18/marijtje2/OPR/athollady.jpg) (http://s210.photobucket.com/user/marijtje2/media/OPR/athollady.jpg.html)
Hi Hannie. It does. You also shaded the right side of her face and narrowed her right forearm too. Thanks.
Another question. Is that her foot poking out from under dress or an artifact?
I don't think that's a foot. If it were, it would be either a sandal or a ballet shoe, which aren't appropriate to the dress or time. So it's probably just damage.
Thanks. I think so too.
Well I shaded some and added a background in. The element on the right could have been a column
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/philbach/OPR.jpg) (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/philbach/media/OPR.jpg.html)
Hi Phil,
You're making good progress on the dress and arms. Her eyes look a little odd to me, though.
When I look at the pillar, this is what I see:
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f246/vgraphica/PillarBon_zps6nm19qt3.jpg) (http://s48.photobucket.com/user/vgraphica/media/PillarBon_zps6nm19qt3.jpg.html)
Tori, thanks so much for taking the time to show me what can be done with the pillar. I know that wasn't very easy to do. As for myself I will go back to the tablet and have at it.
My next issue is what to do with the background. The statue on the right background is tilted. Its tempting to tilt it back. If it stays put, perhaps the floor plane is tilted like the statue.
Just wondering what you think. As yet I have not tried to blend the edges into the background until I place a background.
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/philbach/Background_1.jpg) (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/philbach/media/Background_1.jpg.html)
I think the only way the perspective makes any sense is if the pillar/statue thing is sitting on some kind of stand, which we can't see at all. I think the statue must be right up against the wall or backdrop. That would make the wall begin much lower in the image. I see the tilt of the statue, but what we see might be due to damage or the angle the statue is sitting at, so I wouldn't emphasize the tilt.
I wouldn't put much detail in the background. This texture you have now is probably best. I wouldn't emphasize where the wall joins the floor either, since we can't be completely sure where it is. The main goal would be to make sure she isn't floating in the image.
Sorry that's not more helpful! The more I look at this the happier I am I'm not working on it :up:
Maybe it's a very ornate chair? That might explain the tilt.
Well I lightened the foreground some and shaded some more and submitted the photo and it has been approved. Thanks so much everyone. I really appreciate your help. As I looked out my door this morning I took this photo. But inspite of the cold weather, I had a warm glow in my heart for the experts working with OPR
(http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k270/philbach/Harbor001.jpg) (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/philbach/media/Harbor001.jpg.html)
:up:
Beautiful scene, but burrrrr!
Margie