latest...

[RosyBijou]

Here's my latest little guy...

http://picasaweb.google.com/RosyBijou/OPRWorksInProgress/photo#5128278449225882114

I just can't seem to get his hand to look real.  I've done it over several times with different hands--fixing it didn't work at all for me so transplant seemed to be the only viable option.  The original hand has fingers spread a little and the shadow/highlights are coming from the opposite sides.  I think the lighting is the main reason why it will never look completely right.  It didn't occur to me about the light coming from opposite sides until after I had blended, and blended, and blended...   :mad: 

I harvested pictures from my old albums--at this moment my 6 year old is not feeling very cooperative--he likes having his face photographed, but not so crazy about having his hands fussed over!  He thinks it's funny to cross his fingers just as I'm clicking!  ugh!  (But ya can't get mad at him because he has the cutest giggle...--well ya can, but it doesn't do any good...)  Anyway, none of the pics are turning out yet.

Open to any suggestions about how the rest of this image looks and/or if the current hand is salvagable.   Sister's ready to go home, just waiting for brother to be ready...

[kiska]

Maybe you have the shadow backwards on his hand. Looks like the light is coming over his right shoulder.

[Mhayes]

Kerry,

I would do away with the current hand as it looks like a mannequin's hand and is larger than his real hand. I would go back and use the hand that is the third in series on your slide show with the writing under saying "work on replacing sleeve." I think you catch patch that one up to work much better than the current hand.

I looked at some of your earlier work; you do amazing work!! I was impressed with the difficulty of some of your restorations.

[Charlene5]

I thought the hand was out of proportion to his size and the lighting was off.  I did a fast and nasty to show you what I meant - darkened the hand and shortened the fingers.  He needs fingernails.  I noticed alot of color debris in his shirt so I gave it my fave fast fix - select and desaturate.

[schen]

I see the original has much of the shape retained.  I am wondering whether it would be better to repair the gray scale of the hand and color it rather than grafting a different hand over.

[Hannie]

Hi Kerry,

What a beautiful photo!   
It will be a lot of extra work but I agree with the other that the original hand might be better...I tried some noise and shading.
The overall image looks good but might benefit from a little tonal adjustment.  After seeing MJ faceless baby I tried the Emboss on this little boy, it has quite a nice effect I think.
You have done such a good job!

Hannie

[sanbie]

To me if you look at the original the little finger seems to be apart from the others more...But what a brilliant retore!

Sanbie

[glennab]

Hi Kerry

This little guy looks wonderful.  I like the hand in your original post.  I think if you matched the grain of the rest of the photo and added a little shading it would work fine.  There's no way to get it perfect, because you had so little to work with in the first place.

Kudos for a masterful restoration!

Bless

Glenna

[RosyBijou]

Hi Everyone!
Thank you all for the very kind words.  I love how posting here gives so many different perspectives and ideas--definitely have lots of options to mull over now--I was really stuck...  I think I'm going to take a break from this little dude over the weekend & let all this simmer for a bit.  The gears are turning again now though-- thanks to you all!    :hug:

[Tess (Tassie D)]

What a beautiful picture, :up: great job. I agree with restoring the original hand, there's quite a bit to work with there.