Problems in Black and White

Mes amies, if you're wondering why I still don't have all the "Love Me Two!" entries posted, it's their fault. Those people down at the beach. Yeah, those guys and gals.
But before I play the blame game with the beach gang, I want to say that if you have bought a digital scan from me that I later revise (like the Easter egg girl above or the samples I posted yesterday) and you like the revised version more -- just email me and I will send you the new and improved version.

So why am I upset with the beach gang? Well, truth be told, I love 'em! Each and every one of them. And they are quite a cast of characters to be sure! The guy in the sunglasses on the very back row wearing a beret -- that's Le French Boyfriend. The woman in the last row, the one who all you can see is the outline of her hair  behind the boy in suspenders -- She's Mrs. Invisible. The woman in profile refused to look at the cameraman because she's mad at him because he's her husband and he wouldn't do anything about the young woman on the front row who's sitting with her legs crossed -- what's she thinking posing like that, her dress up above her knees?! The child at the far left just wants the whole thing to be over so she/he can go pee-pee. The woman wearing the big dotted dress -- that's Gladys who loves to be different and she's miffed at Agnus in the front row, who is stealing the scene standing out in her stripes ....

Here's a golden version to mimic golden sandy beaches....

The original photo was black and white, of course. I love the angle of the photo. That space is just crying out for "Wish you were here!" I guess I love everything about it. That's why I went to great pains to restore it because as you can see from the raw scan below, there was some sort of funky going on..... I did a forehead transplant, made a couple of hats, helped a couple of guys grow some hair, made Profile Lady's bouffant have more bouff, cleaned away a gazillion specks, strings and smudges....

Alas, the highlights and shadows in this photo had me pulling out my hair. So I spent several HOURS driving myself crazy and the clock ticked on. When the doorbell rang and I answered, the peddlar said, "Oh, I'm sorry, it looks like I woke you."
"No," I replied smirking. "I just work at home in my pajamas."
Anyway....that's when I decided that I would show you my beloved beach gang and see if anyone knows how to balance the light/dark and make the image "pop." I've tried control/alt/2 to create a layer fill in; I've tried shadow/highlights.....The image is adorable but I want it to be perfect. Anyone who has the perfect solution -- you'll have my deepest appreciation!