Sunrise backlit woes

[Alex_Kelley]

I handed my camera to a stranger to take this photo of myself and a buddy on the summit of Mt. Fuji. Majestic view, but unfortunately the stranger placed the sun in frame and blew out the whole image. I know the blob of clipped whites isn’t going anywhere, but I’m hoping my face can be recovered. Trying to learn how to use darktable, but so far all I’ve been able to do is verify that there is plenty of detail on my face visible in the filmic RGB module’s highlight reconstruction mask.

Here’s the default export to JPEG:

Here’s what the highlight reconstruction mask looks like, zoomed in on my face:

Here’s a link to the RAW file (it’s too big to upload here)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LHqhCPl_1EUcbeHFtzAmEA2xrJYdDTGr/view?usp=drive_link

This file is licensed Creative Commons, By-Attribution, Share-Alike.

[kofa (István Kovács)]

The dynamic range of the photo is pretty small, as most highlights are totally blown, and there are no reason blacks, either, probably due to flare. I didn’t spend much time with it, but was unable to get any result worth sharing. I might try again tomorrow.

[Popanz (Uli - using AgX)]

I think more reconstruction looks surreal

fuji-summit-flag.dng.xmp (22,4 KB)

[lylejk (Lyle Kroll)]

High iteration setting for freaky details (G’MIC) with original on separate layer set to color. A few other things, too. Not pretty. lol

Can be the foundation for an artistic result, possibly.

[cedric (Ted Cousins)]

Tried and failed miserably