What to do with Grandpa's scan.

[BobSaget]

Here's a scan I made of my Grandfather in Alaska during WWII. Any Ideas on what do do with it other than sharpening, levels, maybe correct the vignette, crop?
original black and white negative, 6x4.5

 

[Rick58]

Very cool. I can't see that anything is needed

 

[BobSaget]

Thanks rick, I've been trying to figure out if that's two axes he's carrying and why.

 

[The_Traveler]

In case one breaks?

I would be tempted to leave it as is.

 

[Rick58]

One looks like a canoe paddle. The other is more straight. I don't think either is an axe. It could be a tent pole. Until you mentioned WWII, I assumed it was much earlier and he was a guide or something. JMO

 

[tirediron]

The left-hand (furthest from his back) is definitely a canoe paddle; the other, I'm not sure, but neither look like axe handles to me. Agree; don't do anything more to this except print it.

 

[vintagesnaps]

Nice, I don't know that I'd do any adjustment. If it were my own darkroom print I might burn in very slightly along the edges where it's a little light, that's about it. But for a photo that has more significance like this I might just leave it as is. Interesting photo historically.

 

[BobSaget]

yeah, he was with the Navy and then in this picture a member of the USC&GS. The butt of the closer handle looks like an axe to me, the other I'm not sure.

 

[BobSaget]

Thanks for the replies. It's going to be hard to lay off it but i might take everyone's advice and print as is. From faint memory of my grandfather explaining his time in Alaska there was a dedicated photographer who shot elevations and similar. Anyone have an idea what equipment he would have had.