Can post-processing eliminate specular reflection from a digital image?

Question

I try and always use a polarizing filter, but if I didn't and the photo has a lot of speckle from flat surfaces like water and waxy leaves, can I "smooth" out the speckle in a program like Photo Shop?

Answer 1

It's difficult to take out reflections in PhotoShop or other digital processing.  An expert may be able to blur and smooth some surfaces, but you'd lose any texture that those surfaces should have.  It can be done, but the results won't be anywhere near what you'd get with a proper filter.