Features Under Damage

[Charlene5]

I've just started (again) on this photo. I didn't like where I was going with the first try and scrapped it and started over. The levels are a bit off but I wanted to bring some of the detail out of the murk and then correct it. I see two problems that I don't know how to address: The toy in the baby's hand and the woman's right hand. The detail is lost on the toy's face and the woman's hand has almost vanished into shadow and/or damage. Is there any way to bring up the missing detail or should I just imagine what should be there and put that in? I decided that what looks like a leaf (to me) on the doll is the poor thing's other arm minus the original texture. What do you think? Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks,
MJ

[DannyRaphael]

No brilliant suggestions on the problem areas you mentioned...

For an easy contrast boost here's something you might try...
* Duplicating the BG
* Change layer blend mode to Overlay
* New layer
* Select > All
* Edit > Copy Merged
* Edit > Paste
* Change layer blend mode to Darken
* Delete layer below

Good luck on your restoration.