Hi Photo Experts!
I'm a pastor/art lover who knows little about photography. I thought i'd post this in the hopes that someone who likes a challenge could work on this this photo and re-attach your masterful retouching with explanations of what you did so we could all learn. it's a horrible photo, overexposed in parts, crappy color. The thing is... it's of a friend of mine and a broadway star... she can't retake the photo and I would love to give her a corrected version she could hang on the wall. I've spent hours on photoshop, but clearly, I don't know what I'm doing, so I thought I'd send a challenge out there and see if anyone picks it up. Any takers?

Thanks so much!!
Traci

sometimes you just have to say oh well, no im just kidding. I will come back with an edit for you in an hour.

i know... don't say i didn't warn you :)

I much prefer the "before" on the left she's cute, not so sure about the "after". Too much dodge maybe

Well, the picture appears this way is because it was taken by a low-res cell phone camera with the photographer that's also in the picture. It should be fine for web use, but you can't expect the quality is going to hold by blowing it up and hang it on the wall...just so you know.

You may be able to take it to an art piece.

Here's a quick attempt...

you can't polish a turd

you can get rid of the blue artifact at the bottom by doing the following

duplicate original layer
go to to menu "image/apply image"
change the "channel to "Red" and click Ok
then choose a blending mode (i think "soft light" is best)

it's of a friend of mine and a broadway star... she can't retake the photo and I would love to give her a corrected version she could hang on the wall.
so I thought I'd send a challenge out there and see if anyone picks it up. Any takers?

Thanks so much!!
Traci

Traci, I would ask your "Friend" (if she is the one that is washed out with the blown highlights) to come over some sunny day and bring the camera that was used... and if she held it .. do it again.. and take her picture as close as possible to the very same way as before then just switch heads..

A quick fix, it needs a lot more but I don't have time.

Hi there

Here is another version...I'm afraid I could do little with it.

Butch

Hi there

Here is another version...I'm afraid I could do little with it.

Butch

:D

some photos should just be left alone

sorry i said i would have it in an hour, but i had a client call that needed rush work, but here is my try, I wish i could spend a week on it, but i cant, so i did spend an hour, i hope this is a good start for maybe someone can build on this version from here

Hi Photo Experts!
...I thought i'd post this in the hopes that someone who likes a challenge could work on this this photo and re-attach your masterful retouching with explanations of what you did so we could all learn...

Thanks so much!!
Traci

I did some corrections and I think that by using the liquify tool, dodge & burn with some cloning & curves, you could get some good results.

I did some corrections and I think that by using the liquify tool, dodge & burn with some cloning & curves, you could get some good results.


serious? she doesn't even look human anymore

serious? she doesn't even look human anymore

You're right. This pic does not have a retouching problem :). I think it should be posted in the Image Help forum.

here is result i got

i used the tech in the tut link to darken the hightlights

http://tutorialpulse.com/49/superb-skin-airbrush-technique/3/

then after that i fixed the curves to darken the area around the faces (using curve mask)
i also sharpened it a little(not much)
then i duplicated the main layer and made it a "highpass" filter and changed the blending mode

2 version color and B&W

My first post ever!
Here's my try at this picture. It's mostly some painting, smudge tool and color adjustments.


YIKES!!!!!!!!

My first post ever!
Here's my try at this picture. It's mostly some painting, smudge tool and color adjustments.
WOW, way to jump in there on your first post! :bigthmb:

Welcome to RetouchPro. Nice to have you on board.
Have fun, poke around, join in, any problems just ask.
I think you will make many new friends here.

You picked a doozy for your 1st.. IMHO, I think you have submitted one of the best repair jobs on this particular picture.

Seeing as how your so talented at painting and smudging you may be interested in meeting and joining in with the folks here also:
http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/photo-based-art/

I am looking forward to seeing more of your work

The girl's face on the right is so overexposed in light, that there is no "information" to correct in the traditional sense of a photo retouch.


To make this look like a quality picture, you would basically need to paint in and "make up" shadows that are supposed to be there.


Here is a picture of a friend that I am working on that is kind of in the same line as your problem. My friend's picture is pretty overexposed and flat, BUT there is still some information and some shadows there to play off of. I can get a sense for the shape of her face.

Your picture doesn't really give the retoucher much to work with.


You might be better off hiring a traditional portrait illustrator to interpret your picture of you and your friend as a drawing or painting.

Good luck either way. :)

hey this is my attempt to fix your image
i did some drawing, color adjustments, and lots of
creativity cuz i dont now how the girl should look like.
hope u like :D
http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/8891/fixed1fb3.jpg

Good effort guys, keep up the good work

You may be able to take it to an art piece.
I like this version.
I'd title it phantom of the opera since the sun managed to give her that masked effect.
This isn't said in sarcastically but because of the Broadway connection. I think it best to use the effect that's there instead of trying too hard to fix a really poor photo.
I also like the suggestion of retaking just the one girl.

I did some corrections and I think that by using the liquify tool, dodge & burn with some cloning & curves, you could get some good results.
You did a great job recreating the skin. I'm not sure about the liquify though, she looks quite different.

you can't polish a turd. (not that the girl is a turd but it's a freakin cell phone pic). Nothing has looked remotely human yet.

I think Daviskw has come about as close to saving this photo as is possible. [happyface has done a d***ed good job, as well, maybe best of the bunch.]

are you kidding me about the best of the bunch? they look dead.

Here is my shot at it.

Here is my shot at it.

lol you win!

Everything I tried made it look like she was wearing a mask.
So I thought, "Why fight it?"
I think I would just go with the original.
58378

I just wish this thread would die...
Thank you to the people here who actually had advise and tips on the picture I posted, and the several other people who actually tried to work this very difficult picture.
I have removed my picture out of this joke thread.

Well I just painted in the face.

this thread should have never been started, NO ONE will do a good retouch on this cell phone picture.

I think twins are far more appealing ...

Stosh

I had to give it a go.
I painted in what I could using the clone tool.
Then used pixelate color halftone to give a comic book effect.
Comic book art tutorial can be seen here.
http://www.photoshopmama.net/chores/chores_p3.html?reload

To be honest, IMO your best bet is to give it the artistic touch:

like so...

LOL! It would be easier to find those girls and take another shot. As someone said, some photos shoud be left alone. This is hopeless. :D