Gaussian

The problem with this picture is not so much the reflection, but the fact that the photograph is:

- small (few pixels to work with)
- blurry
- lots of compression artifacts
- poor dynamic range
- poor lighting

That makes it really difficult to come up with a convincing fix with all these limitations.

Personally I never spend my time on images like this, unless there are emotional reasons involved. For example not long ago I made someone really happy who thought one of his most important marriage pictures was for ever destroyed. It took me two hours, but the result and the response of the owner was really worth it.

My advice with this image: if you retouch it, make sure you have two windows open (menu: windows/arrange/new window). Use one window that shows the complete picture, use the other image to work in detail, this to avoid surprises (and there are more than you would expect) after you zoom out again...

docilebob

My feelings exactly, Gaussian. I enjoyed the challenge in this one, even though I didn`t follow it through well. Just wanted to see if I could find a technique that would get it going the right direction. This one would require lots of time and hand work. It would have to be important.
And , yea, the smile on a friends face when you save a piece of their past is very cool.