New Technique

Every now and then while doing adjustments to photos in Photoshop I come across one that no matter what I do to it I just can't seem to get it to look right. I discovered this "technique" while working on one of these so called "stubborn" photos. I'm not claiming this to be a fix all but it may just help you with that next photo you just can't get right.

Original

In the LEVELS palette (image -> adjustments -> levels) you move the middle slider all the way to the left so its next to the "black" slider.
You then add color back using the BRIGHTNESS/CONTRAST palette (image -> adjustments -> brightness/contrast) by moving the "brightness" slider to the left and the "contrast" slider to the right.

Finished