Dinvaut - Young Man and Woman

[Candice]

It's a start. Frame and background and a little on the people.

 

[Jo Ann Snover]

What a gorgeous old photo!I'm guessing this is WWII vintage; love the car/truck helping to set the scene too.

[Candice]

It is a great old photo, Jo.  You know my hubby and I got to thinking about it and  agree, it is around the WWII era.  They we pondered the young man's uniform.  If he's a soldier, there are definitely some issues with the uniform like, no name, no patch, shirt not tucked, but then we remembered that gas station attendees used to be in a uniform too. 
Inquiring minds want to know...............  :)

Here's where I am thus far. 

[Jo Ann Snover]

I'd love to know!!

I think you may be right that this is not a military uniform - I looked at some photos of 1940s uniforms and all the pockets I saw had flaps and buttons, and there's not a hint of a patch on the sleeve. That belt is a classic military style, but was likely widely copied:

https://olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_clothing_web_belts_ww2.php

I looked at some vintage photos of gas station attendants and many had logos on the shirt or the hat with the name of the company - it's a shame you can't read what's on that round metal object on his hat. Bottom line is that I couldn't find anything that looked just like this guy's outfit, but I think your guess is probably right. Here were some of the vintage photos:

https://vintagedancer.com/1940s/1940s-mens-work-clothes/

https://www.alamy.com/gas-station-attendant-talking-on-telephone-in-office-image153819953.html
https://www.alamy.com/a-shell-gas-station-worker-tips-his-hat-to-a-driver-during-a-service-stop-ca-1940-image220573501.html
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-gas-station-attendant-cleaning-a-car-1952-30421391.html
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-1930s-service-station-attendant-in-cap-coveralls-pouring-water-from-12664341.html
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/woman-pays-an-attendant-as-he-writes-the-invoice-after-news-photo/466323345
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/flying-a-gas-station-attendant-working-on-a-flat-tire-san-news-photo/483708465

[Candice]

I found a few but I'll share this one, too.  It's a mystery we'll never have an answer to.  lol   PS  You found one of my favorite sources for picture research - Getty Images

[Candice]

Original -


Restoration


Restoration w/light sepia

[Jo Ann Snover]

I really love this picture.

I did notice some differences between what I see in the lower part of the photo - what first caught my eye were the woman's legs. When I looked at the original and brightened it up a lot to try and get details, I think what was going on wa that she had one leg (her right) crossed behind the other at the ankle, so you can only see a very small piece of her right leg (on the left in the photo).

You can also see the line of the bottom of the car or truck and just a hint of the man's shoes below his trouser legs. I've drawn some outlines over the original and then overlaid them over your current restore - hope that helps explain what I'm seeing.



Small things: you've added a catchlight to the woman's right eye (left in photo) that wasn't there in the original. On the man's cap, the line under the circular metal badge has a glitch in it so it doesn't meet the other side

Just about done!

[Jo Ann Snover]

This is the closest I could find for what I think the leg/feet position is for the woman in this photo (I realize the setting and vibe is all wrong!!)

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/woman-suitcase-near-car-beautiful-relaxes-212687131

[Candice]

I'll look it over after the weekend, Jo. Family coming in this weekend.  Thanks for looking.

[Shadow]

Looking good so far Candy. Its going to be another gem.  :)

[Candice]

Taking all the suggestions, here's the latest update. 

 

[philbach]

Hi Candice.  I took your restored photo and copied the background layer it to a new layer.  To that layer I applied a layer mask and used apply Image/Adjustments/Shadows Highlights to bring out the lower part of the photo.  To limit the correction to the lower part, I added a layer mask and only showed the lower part to bring out the legs.   I then copied the bottom layer again to make another layer.  To that layer I applied the camera raw filter Dehaze.  I then applied a layer mask to that layer to show only the upper part.   If you don't want to use the camera raw filter for that layer, you could use Multiply as the blending option .  Should all this be done?  Here is the result.  All in all your restore is looking really nice. Phil  :up:

[Candice]

Thank you, Phil, and others that have helped.  I've corrected the areas you have shown and some others I have found.  I believe this couple is ready to send home now.

[Shadow]

Lovely work Candy. In your earlier post on the 5th the man's pants leg was fuller. Maybe mask that earlier leg into the final? Just a thought.

[Candice]

I tried going back to work on a few suggestions but may have taken those back too far.  So here's my update.  Let me know what you think.