Need help with photo taken with a dirty lens

[radowney]

Have a 2816 x 2112 photo that I have been trying to fix from suggestions found on these forums. I'm a newbie and have using PSE6 without much success. It is a group photo taken at Machu Picchu by a friend using a camera with a dirty lens.
Any suggestions on how I can get this fixed and maintain the pixel size for a large print?

[Juergen D]

This is mostly done with a 50% Gray layer set to Soft Light, using a soft brush at varying opacity. Some selective increase in contrast, some USM. Layer 3 is set to Screen (30%) to brighten things up. Let me know if I overlooked anything.

Juergen

[radowney]

I ran through the layers you suggested, but I still couldn't get rid of the flare.

Also is there any way to recover the facial detail?

Here's the link to the full size image.

http://radowney.smugmug.com/gallery/4114774#239955824

I plan on removing the other people in the back ground later.

[radowney]

Sorry that should be:.

http://radowney.smugmug.com/gallery/...239955824-O-LB

[Wolfman]

Try pulling out the faces with shadow/highlight on layers and masking.

[Frank Lopes]

This is what I managed to do with the small image.
I have the image in its original size if you are interested.

Originally Posted by radowney

It is a group photo taken at Machu Picchu by a friend...

[0lBaldy]

I don't have elements but I just used a hide all (Black) masked Dust & Scratch layer to remove the noise.. clone tool on the extra people and brightened the shadows a bit with history set to screen..
Larger version here:
http://img189.imagevenue.com/img.php..._122_258lo.jpg

[CJ Swartz]

radowney, were you one of the guys on the peak? Those guys deserve those smiles -- what a sight, and looks like it took some work to get there.

You've got some good work done already, but I liked the effect of over-sharpening / diffuse - increased contrast in the faces. I started it off in Adobe Camera Raw to add some fill light, de-saturate and reduce luminosity in the sunstruck shirt. I don't have Elements either - used CS3, but Elements has Camera raw, doesn't it?

[radowney]

Thanks for everyone's help on this photo.

CJ ....Alas, I was not able to climb up to Huayna Picchu, which is the peak in the background of most photos of Machu Picchu. Had my knee replaced last April, and felt that an 800 foot climb was more than I could handle. However, I did have the pleasure of exploring Machu Picchu for two days.

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by radowney

Thanks for everyone's help on this photo.

CJ .... I did have the pleasure of exploring Machu Picchu for two days.

Cool! I love South American pre-history, and your trip sounds marvelous!

[radowney]

CJ.....Would it be too much to ask you for a link to the full size file of your edit

[Juergen D]

Well, I ended up with a 76.2 MB PSD file. Lots of work. All faces were treated separately. Unfortunately, the gentleman's face in the rear right was very dark. The Panasonic DMC-FZ7 tends to introduce some graininess in dark areas, which will really show when they are lightened up.
The cloning was an interesting exercise. I used one of the other images to get as much as possible of the original mountains.

Juergen

[CJ Swartz]

Originally Posted by radowney

CJ.....Would it be too much to ask you for a link to the full size file of your edit

Done!

Originally Posted by Juergen D

Well, I ended up with a 76.2 MB PSD file. Lots of work. All faces were treated separately. Unfortunately, the gentleman's face in the rear right was very dark. The Panasonic DMC-FZ7 tends to introduce some graininess in dark areas, which will really show when they are lightened up.
The cloning was an interesting exercise. I used one of the other images to get as much as possible of the original mountains.

Juergen

I used one of the other images also, but you did better than I at keeping the original look of the mountains and the edge on the left as well.
The man in the right rear didn't have clear detail in either of the images - due to the shadow from his hat and his positioning from the camera. You really put a lot of work into this - 76 megs!

[Juergen D]

Originally Posted by CJ Swartz

You really put a lot of work into this - 76 megs!

Thanks, CJ. I forgot to mention it earlier, but it was done entirely in PSE5.

Juergen