first restoration attempt...thoughts?

[redwren]

Hi, I've recently gained an interest in restoration and so have been poking around this site quite a bit! These forums have been insanely helpful. I just finished my first restoration attempt and I'd really appreciate some thoughts on how well I've done, as well as tips on anything else that looks like it needs work, if you have any.

This here is the original:
http://i47.tinypic.com/2pt8nd4.jpg

And here's what I've done with it:
http://i48.tinypic.com/1zmcguh.jpg

[philbach]

redwren welcome to retouch pro. There is always so much to learn. A find job on your restoration. I hope to see more of your postings.

[mushmush]

Yep- that's a nice job.
It does seem a little darker in the shadows than the original- that's personal preference.

[ratpat13]

Hi redwren,

Really nice job, it seems your poking around has payed off. The cloning and tonal values look really nice. But since you are hear for a critique my few comments might be that there is some noticeable repetition in the cloning on the middle left background (on and around the plant foliage backdrop). I would also agree that the shadows look a little crunched, though looking at the original there isn't much detail in there so you might be fine.

But those are just details. Good work.

[Mike Needham]

Just echoing others thoughts really. A really good first job, the shadows are a little too blown and I may have been tempted to sharpen the image, but overall, more power to you!

[Southbay]

Originally Posted by Mike Needham

...I may have been tempted to sharpen the image, but overall, more power to you!

A fine candidate for high pass sharpening. Radius of 1.4 looks good at my end.

[TommyO]

Redwren,

Welcome to RP !

I agree with the others also. Good job. I was also wondering what you thought about the tie on the gentleman on the left. Although it looks like it was originally out of place or something, what do you think about fixing it up a little bit. Just a thought.

[meadowlark]

Very good job, I was wondering if you know who the people are in the photo?

[Aurora Graphix]

Excellent job! Just one 'suggestion' if I could. And I only bring it up because it was the very first thing that caught my attention when I opened the photo.

The curtain behind the lady in the middle has a crease in it that almost matches up perfectly with the part in her hair. That combined with the brighter spot on the forehead almost looked to me like a lightning bolt on her head or something. I would fade out that crease in the curtain behind her.

After looking at the photo for awhile that thought seems less noticeable, but when i first opened the image my eyes drew to it immediately.

But as others have said ... very good work!!!

[redwren]

Thank you for all of the thoughtful comments! I appreciate the advice and the things to think about. Looking back at this, I can see more things I'd like to tweak. I've been busy the past while and so haven't been able to pay much attention to my retouch attempts, unfortunately.

Meadowlark, I haven't a clue who they are. I obtained the image from the Library of Congress and it wasn't labeled.