Brown snow - Help

[philippeR]

Total digital photography jong here :

I've a photo of philippeJr (grey helmet, winning the race...) I like, but the photog, not me, choose a nice patch of brown april snow to shoot the pic...

Is there any chance to cheat and to turn this brownish slush into something whiter !?
Is it impossible or hopeless for a total jong like me ?
If that's doable, is there any 'how-to' avalaible on line ?

Yes, I did use the search function, but I don't even know if my request makes any sense... Bear with me, I was still using film 6 months ago.

(I have MS photo premium on my PC an can put my hands on a Photoshop)

[hemas]

Yeah, you can Photoshop the brown patch to white. It'll take some time but complitely doable.

I'll let someone else tell you the easiest way.

[smalls]

use the clone tool in PS or the gimp.

very quick/rough clone job:
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m65/bwetch/afondpetit.jpg

edit to note that to make cloning look good and to keep the texture, you're going to have to use a tiny brush and it will take quite some time.

[philippeR]

Thanks for the tip. Obviously it can be done.
Working on it with the Gimp.

[hemas]

Also, atleast in PS, you can use the healing brush "lighten" or convert the color (ie. brown to white). That way all the texture of the snow will stay in place, just the color will change.

[philippeR]

Experimenting the different options, brushes... To get a natural aspect is really tough under and around the skis. On the original file, the skis are unweighted and he seems 'above' the snow, not 'in' it. With the whitewashing, it really looks un-natural.
Well, not there yet, but working on it : I know it can be done.
Thanks again.