Kiki in a red dress

This is a composite of a building I shot back in January and a runway shot from Fashion Week. What I'm most curious about is believability - Does it look plausible? The shot is 9 layers.

Hmm. This one's really different, Jet. I like the off beat composition. I am really torn on the "LIVE ALLIGATORS" text back there. In some ways it adds a unique element to your photograph, but I am also distracted by it. The ground doesn't seem to match her dress, another curve ball. :) Great position - looks like you were keeling and shot this at about 3 ft above the ground.

Really elegant model btw.

G

For the most part, yes. But the edges around her definitely need to be softer to blend in with the bg. I'm talking just the tiniest bit.

Also, try adding a second, very soft, very faint shadow. I'm not entirely sure about that; it's more just curiosity as to whether it would work. Maybe not.

I love the shot, in any case. I agree about the camera position; makes her look 9 feet tall, which is good. I also like the choice of focal lengths. And the dress color. Not diggin' the makeup, but that's personal taste and has little to do with whether or not this image is believable/effective.

Anyway, address the above couple of issues and report back. :D

Btw, what selection method did you use?

The light is pretty right on. maybe she can be a tiny tiny bit lighter.

There are two dark areas on her shoulders down her arms. The right one (our right) is good, the one on the left is a bit suspect and look out of pplace. but overall i think u did a great job.

the only real problem i see here is her shoes. they don't blend in at all. especially the toe area, not sure what's going on there. but having said that, honestly dude u did a great job at compositing this one! Very natural light.

Awesome job

I have shots at wide open aperture that look more artificial than this

The dark shades on the sides of her arms are about the only indication I can see that she was added afterwards, particularly on the sunny side

At the bottom half , I really like the light coming through the transparency the dress, was this added in PP ?

Without reading your statement, my first impression of this image was that it was actually shot on loaction, so that tells me its certainly believeable right off the bat. then having read that its composited i started looking for clues, and will agree that the dark edges on her arms could be lightened or cloned/smoothed away and maybe a tad more light on her hair.
Overall, its very convincing

WOW lots to respond to...
First, I don't quite understand a couple of statements:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GB1

The ground doesn't seem to match her dress, another curve ball.

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Dress was liquefied just a bit to match the ground contour, so I'm not sure what you're seeing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by draymorton

Also, try adding a second, very soft, very faint shadow.

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Behind, to the right, in front?

Focal lengths - She was shot at f/3.2 ISO 200 background was shot at f/12 ISO 100 then a second "graduated lens blur" layer added above the background.

The shoes - natural snakeskin platform pumps may try to colorize to define them more

Shadow - was lifted from the runway shot of her, pasted as a separate layer set to multiply blend mode, then color corrected to match shadows adjacent on the ground.

Transparency of dress - luckily the runway was white and the sand was close enough to pull that part off without extra work.

Selection method - Quick select wand / refine edge output to mask (for further tweeking) did blur the edges, but not quite enough it seems...


For everyone that pointed out the arms - THANKS! too many hours of staring at the same image and I simply overlooked it. Will dodge out the left side arm and hair to get some sun-glow going on that side.

Here are the originals used to make the composite and the basic layer layout:

Sorry, I was thinking in front, but I could very well be wrong. I just thought the shadow needed to be softened around the edges, but again, maybe not.

Great job, in general, matching the subject with the bg.

I saw some shots were taken of two conflicting elements such as this one was meant to be. Those shots were usually taken with both elements together at the same time, therefore even the elements were conflicting but still connected with shadows and light. Unlike this one looks very much that the girl was placed on top without relating her to the scene.
You're successful in bringing the light closer but the shadows are of different environments. The background light comes from behind ( I can see the sun), with the girl the light is vertical.
I agree with the above about the camera angle. The girl was on a runway higher than your camera level while the background was shot from a higher level.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by draymorton

Anyway, address the above couple of issues and report back. :D

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Tried to address the issues brought forth in the first volley :p
The hair *might* still be an issue. After three dodge & screen layers I can't push it any further without severe degradation of detail.

I see how the problem with the toes of the shoes are in the original. I still don't get why they look like that. weird. Hey you did a good job photoshoping this, maybe you can photoshop her a nicer pair of shoes. lol.