This lady needs a dress....

[weewood]

I'm coming in the home stretch, at least I think I am, but this lady needs a dress. From what I can see it looks like it might be a prom dress, but she also does not look too happy, so I'm still guessing. Does anyone some help comments or suggestions?

[Hannie]

David, I really shouldn't even reply because I haven't got the faintest idea what the dress would look like.  Tried every channel in every mode and there really isn't anything.  Even the upside down white V-shape seems to be nothing more than damage...
I just wanted to say what a fine job you did so far in bringing back the colors and detail on the rest of the photo, it looks great!

:loveit:

Hannie

[weewood]

Any other thoughts?????

[schen]

David,

Let's see what options you have:

1. Leave the damage alone
2. Reconstruct the background around a floating head
3. Give her a reasonable dress (I think she is older than prom age.)

Then ask yourself: if you are the owner, which one would you prefer to have.  This is not a perfect solution but is the best I can come up with for now.

[cmpentecost]

As you all know, OPR discourages cropping photos unless absolutely necessary.  However, in looking further at this photo, I would be OK to have it cropped.  The man/woman are the focus.  Adding a torso or having a floating head would look weird, and as Shujen said, "what would the owner want".  I'm including a cropped version that might work, and perhaps drawing in a shoulder/neck.  Very basic.

Christine

[cmpentecost]

Oh, I should add that the photo is a 4x5, so if you crop, make sure your Photoshop crop parameters are set to 4x5 at 300 resolution.

Christine

[kiska]

The girl needs SOMETHING. Maybe suggest a dress?

[glennab]

Kiska, I like your rendering of the phantom dress.  The crop Chris suggested seems reasonable, though, because there really is no way to determine what she's wearing.

David, you've done a fantastic job of cleaning up the rest of the image.  I have a question: why do you think the corner wall by the baskets is lighter than the rest?  Is is a lighting thing, or is it damage?  For some reason that jumped out at me.

Cheers

G

[weewood]

Glenna, I thought the lighter part was part of the photo since there was no damage around it. It could be from a light source or flash. That's why I left it. Let me know if you think I should change it.

Kiska, I liked the phantom dress, and maybe she is too old to have a prom dress, but I thought maybe if the Dad was in a suit, she must be wearing something elegant. Don't you think?

[cmpentecost]

I think what Kiska did looks really nice.  Better than doing such a major crop.  As for the lighting differential, I thought maybe it was a door or something.

Chris

[glennab]

David, go with your observation on the light area.  It caught my eye, but if it looks as if it's a lighting effect and not damage, I'd leave it.

Actually, the dress Kiska created is quite elegant and appropriate to compliment a man in a suit. There doesn't necessarily have to be tons of lace and "gingerbread" for clothing to be attractive.  (If you ever see me in lace, shoot me on the spot! Please!)

G

[kiska]

Crop it with part of the dress. Not a fancy suit. Maybe a low key wedding that wouldn't require a fancy dress. He's got a boutonniere.

[schen]

I love baskets.  I would vote for no crop and give a dress like kiska suggested.

[kiska]

schen, your wish.........

[Hannie]

Yes, keep the beautiful woven (Indian?) baskets and Kiska's dress.  Usually I don't like it when things have been added to restored photos but Kiska designed just the perfect dress for this lady!  Not too plain not too frivolous, it blends in just right.
(I had another look at themagenta channel and this time I noticed that there is the same neckline visible of a dress/whatever.)

:loveit:

Hannie