Some of you may recall that I collect old negatives. These are the images I make an exception for regards my rule of not playing with other folks images. This is one I particularly like as paddle steamers were once a common sight around the bit of coast close to our home. At Lulworth Cove passengers originally had to disembark into small boats and were then rowed ashore. Later the hulls were reinforced so that the paddle steamer could simply ram the shore and drop a gangway that allowed passengers to trip their way down onto terra firma. The image here is unlikely to be Lulworth, or anywhere local, as I am unable to identify the boat at the moment. Nevertheless, the detail of unloading passengers is very thoroughly shown and the passengers look wonderfully 'turn of century' in their Sunday Best, soI would like to make a decent effort to restore it. The big question is, how far to go? Replacing the sea and sky is, I reckon, the only way forward as the deterioration of the emulsion is so bad, and is not a difficult task. I haven't used any of the newer selection tools in Ps to do it, just a simple selection of the key elements. I could leave it at that (after I restore the missing lady in the bottom right boat to her rightful place) but I would like some better detail on both the steamer and the small boats - but I don't know that I have the patience. What would you do, and have you got any ideas as to how to go about it?

I think you need a "Mission Statement" before you go much farther. Is it your intent to restore this picture to its former glory or to keep the impression of a 100 year old picture that was well cared for and just feeling its age. So far I think you have the option of choosing either direction but the tipping point is coming soon and your skills and patience allow you to go either direction. My choice would be to go with the 100 year old but well cared for look. What ever direction you take the important thing is to have fun and keep us posted.

P.S. Some contrast and dehaze makes it an easier image to work on. I tried some Generative Fill on some locations on the ship's hull and it worked reasonably well.

Some of you may recall that I collect old negatives. These are the images I make an exception for regards my rule of not playing with other folks images. This is one I particularly like as paddle steamers were once a common sight around the bit of coast close to our home. At Lulworth Cove passengers originally had to disembark into small boats and were then rowed ashore. Later the hulls were reinforced so that the paddle steamer could simply ram the shore and drop a gangway that allowed passengers to trip their way down onto terra firma. The image here is unlikely to be Lulworth, or anywhere local, as I am unable to identify the boat at the moment. Nevertheless, the detail of unloading passengers is very thoroughly shown and the passengers look wonderfully 'turn of century' in their Sunday Best, soI would like to make a decent effort to restore it. The big question is, how far to go? Replacing the sea and sky is, I reckon, the only way forward as the deterioration of the emulsion is so bad, and is not a difficult task. I haven't used any of the newer selection tools in Ps to do it, just a simple selection of the key elements. I could leave it at that (after I restore the missing lady in the bottom right boat to her rightful place) but I would like some better detail on both the steamer and the small boats - but I don't know that I have the patience. What would you do, and have you got any ideas as to how to go about it?