I need help with hand...

[winwintoo]

I have been working on this photo of my son when he was about 2 and I'm happy with the results but now I've arrived at his little hand......

Please share your experience reconstructing hands and such. I only have my fat old granny hands as a model, and I don't think I can draw that good anyway.....

Thanks,
Margaret

[DJ Dubovsky]

Hi Margaret
Looks real good what you've done so far. He was a handsome little guy. They're so cute at that age.
I think I would search my photos for a baby photo with hands as see if I could clone in one that looked like it would fit the best. That's about the only way to get a complete hand without drawing one. You must have lots of photos of family and friends at young ages to check on a clone. You might even find another photo of him that has his hand in it. Try to find on as close to that position as you can.
You really only need some fingers really since the rest of the hand is still in good shape. Another idea might be to stick a soft toy or object that would appear to be laying over the fingers. Hope that helps.
DJ

[winwintoo]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will go through the rest of the family photos and see if I can find a hand. If not, I can snap a picture of a toy and put that in his hand.

I began to doubt my ability to earn any money at this when I realized that I might have to "draw" most of his hand. It's good to know how others would handle the problem.

Thanks again,
Margaret

[DJ Dubovsky]

I can draw fairly well but I still try to avoid drawing on a restoration if I can help it because no matter how well you draw, it's extremely difficult to simulate photographic perfect details. What you usually end up with a is a cross between photo and art work. If you're trying to create a work of art from a photo, that's one thing but if you are trying to replicate and image realistically, drawing usually doesn't work.
DJ

[Doug Nelson]

I kind of like the way he appears to be giving a "thumbs up"
Otherwise, the idea of making him hold something is the way I'd go. I mean, even if you found a hand, how real would it look just laying there?

[winwintoo]

The finished product....

Thanks to your excellent advice, I have completed the restoration of my son's picture and here it is...

Margaret

[Doug Nelson]

Evidently, very real

Good work.

[DJ Dubovsky]

Margaret
Very well done. Maybe add a small soft shadow is all. Love the fingers you chose. They look great.
DJ

[jeaniesa]

Margaret,
The hand you chose is perfect - and it looks very natural the way you pasted it in. The only other thing I might do to the overall photo is a levels adjustment to increase the contrast a bit (it looks a little washed out.) Otherwise, great job!
Jeanie

[winwintoo]

Thanks for the feedback Jeanie. I think it looks washed out too, and will go back and play with levels a bit more

I'm just learning, and keep dropping projects to move on to the next one where I can learn something else new - one of these days I'll have to go back and finish up the ones that got left.

Thanks again,
Margaret