Walking on Water

[Cleve]

I'm just getting to grips with compositing and would like to know how to make my model seem like they are walking on water. I will be working from two shots, my model and a backdrop with water. Many thanks

[Swampy]

First step is to extract your model from it's current background then bring it into the photo with the water. Have you gotten that far?

[pellepiano]

Then extract some water splashes from another image. heres an example of a composite I made where I shot the splashes separately with a small aquarium.

[Dave.Cox]

Pelle, Nicely done!

[Cleve]

Hi Swampy,

I'm in the middle if doing the compositing as we speak. I'm just getting to grips with using channels and I've been reading a book on the subject by Scott Kelby. For someone with very little experience on the subject I'm doing OK so far.

[Cleve]

Hi Pelle,

I would presume to make water splashes I would drop stones into the pond I've just shot and shoot those splashes or is there another way?

[pellepiano]

You can also find free "splashes" at www.sxc.hu

http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=sea...sh&w=1&x=0&y=0

[Digiart]

Extract the model, place it above the waterlayer. Make a copy of the model layer--transform- vertical and distort or wrap till the refection has the wright angle.
Put the last model layer in positon overlay at 50% and use the filter Distort" "ocean ripple or waves". It depends how rough the water is.

I hope, I have been of any help.

Sorry for my English.

[Greenmantle]

Originally Posted by Cleve

I'm just getting to grips with compositing and would like to know how to make my model seem like they are walking on water. I will be working from two shots, my model and a backdrop with water. Many thanks

Not sure if you've already shot the images for this but if not, keep in mind what the lighting of your background shot is when you take the photo of your model in the studio to try to best match the lighting conditions/angles.

Water obviously reflects light quite well so if you have a fairly large silver reflector that you can place in front of the feet of the model you might find it easier to match the image of the water (if it's a sunlit shot)

If the water shot is taken at night then you'll have a far easier time matching much more direct and less diffused light sources.

As for the actual manipulation itself, digiart explained the technique I'd use pretty well.

cheers,
Mark