Photoshop Challenge

[Shay Mann]

My brother shot this small mule deer buck back in 1999. Back in the day, we didn't have anything for cameras, all we could afford were cheap little point and shoot 35mms. We also didn't know jack about composition and lighting (obviously)

I know quite a bit about photoshop, but I don't think I can do anything with this photo.
Maybe there are a few of you guys out there who in your spare time wouldn't mind a challenge.

I've basically just messed with the AutoLevels and Contrast. But can't seem to get anything that looks good. I realize that for the most part it is a "garbage in / garbage out" deal. But I've seen Photoshop pros do some pretty amazing things.

Here is a link to the file, I can't post it here because it is about 750K @ 200DPI

http://www.smpoutdoors.com/photoshop/muledeer.html

If anyone wants to try it, I greatly appreciate you looking at it.

You can send it to my email at: manns@smpoutdoors.com

Thanks

 

[Lan-Lord]

I tried playing with it some Shay, but there wasn't much I could do.
The highlights and shadows seem to be too strong beyond repair.

 

[Shay Mann]

I appreciate you guys looking at it.

PaPaBob actually did some work on it, and it cleaned up a bit. Thanks !

I know, tough picture.

 

[clutchkiller]

I would really like to see what PaPaBob came up with (if neither of you would mind). I tried but there wasn't enough detail in the hind legs.

 

[PaPaBob]

Here is an edited version of the picture. I cropped it down to get rid of as much as the high contrast material which really was part of the sentimental part . . . LOL I then adjusted the brightness and contrast at bit and performed a Sharpening filter. Then I changed the hue's to try to draw out more color and enhance the picture. For posting I had to resize it a bit so it may not look quite as good as the one I sent back.

 

[Hideandwatch]

I played with it for awhile, I was doing fairly well then it just got crappy. I was doing some repairs with the healing brush and clone tools, then used levels. I had to enlarge it really big to get anywhere. I think that someone with some talent in working those tools could make some great improvements though.