Specific Edit a group photo please

[Wheeto]

Hiya,
Was wondering if any of you could touch up either of the group images attached (Preferably the former image "p s" but either is good).
Primarily so the people at the back don't look so bright. I assume it'd revolve around the brightness contrast and exposure. But after messing around for a little while I've had no luck, just made it look synthetic and even worse.
Any other touch up improvements would also be appreciated.
Thank you

 

[thebestcpu]

I have the same problem. Any chance this was taken with a camera with raw file. The extra bit depth is needed to recover the faces that are fairly blown out It will also not have the compression artifacts from JPEG which are an issue with recovery of this image as well.
Just a suggestion
John Wheeler

 

[Wheeto]

I have the same problem. Any chance this was taken with a camera with raw file. The extra bit depth is needed to recover the faces that are fairly blown out It will also not have the compression artifacts from JPEG which are an issue with recovery of this image as well.
Just a suggestion
John Wheeler

Thanks for getting getting back to me,
It was only a bare bones phone camera so not sure if its likely to have a raw file, but I'll ask my friend and get back to you when she wakes. You think it's pretty much irreparable though with the quality I've uploaded here?
Thanks again

 

[ph_o_e_n_ix]

You think it's pretty much irreparable though with the quality I've uploaded here?

If you have photos of the individual people, you/we could replace the overexposed heads of the group photo.

An identical line of sight and lighting would of course be ideal.

 

[thebestcpu]

I agree with ph_o_e_n_ix. It would take some replacement of other photos to get the details needed for a good image. I have included below a close up of the faces of the people with white faces. There is only a few levels of gray available due to being in 8 bit JPEG and you can also see large blocks that have to do with JPEG lossy compression. So not much to work with in these images as there is no additional detail in the image. That is why you too are having issues. Others in the forum may have additional ideas and have seem some amazing things done yet the level of work required is inversely proportional with starting image quality most of the time.
John Wheeler

 

[Wheeto]

I agree with ph_o_e_n_ix. It would take some replacement of other photos to get the details needed for a good image. I have included below a close up of the faces of the people with white faces. There is only a few levels of gray available due to being in 8 bit JPEG and you can also see large blocks that have to do with JPEG lossy compression. So not much to work with in these images as there is no additional detail in the image. That is why you too are having issues. Others in the forum may have additional ideas and have seem some amazing things done yet the level of work required is inversely proportional with starting image quality most of the time.
John Wheeler

View attachment 108846

Yeah that makes sense. Thanks for the feedback and elaborating.

 

[Babine]

WIth what there was in both shots ....

 

[Wheeto]

WIth what there was in both shots ....

View attachment 108874

Thank you. Appreciate the effort

 

[thebestcpu]

I took another shot at this with a different objective given that it is very difficult to recovery details in the white areas. I focused on something that might be a good memory and actual create a bit of distraction with some more emphasis to the environment. Sometimes the goal of an image is to evoke a smile from a nice memory/time. Was hoping this approach might help with that even though the image is pretty overblown.
Just one more interpretation to consider.
John Wheeler