How To Make Gunshop More Real

[dvbear]

So basically I took a self portrait on a white seamless paper but I want to put it on a cool backdrop. I like guns so I tried doing this, but for some reason it doesn't seem right but I don't know what to fix.

Any suggestions?

[ezprod]

I would take a picture of yourself in front of any kind of wall with texture. Notice how the edges near your hair and neck shadow. Check the blur that is created naturally. Check for how the shadows work etc. You want to create depth. Noticing these things in real life will help you create natural looking "fake" backgrounds.

[dvbear]

Thanks ezprod but in regards to this picture, do you think there are any techniques I can use? I do notice the "unnatural look" and I played around with it and I noticed if I blurred the backfround a little, it looked a bit more realistic. Maybe if I added some dodging and burning near the edges of the body?

[ezprod]

One thing I like to do as well is create a mask of yourself and create a shadow for yourself play with the feather, the warp and the location but that helps sell you in front of the wall as well. Also you did a great job cutting yourself out, but add back a little blur right at the edges your face. That should do something positive for selling the illusion.

[mistermonday]

dvbear, you might try to blur the background slightly. The BG usually is not as sharp in focus as the foreground. That will give it a bit more depth and make the subject blend in better.
Regards, Murray

[ME_wwwing]

Adj Layer of Selective Colors>Reds-more Black>Yellow-more Black>Blacks-more Blacks>Mask to keep the BG
top Adj Layer Exposure>Gamma t the right a tad.
but that's my taste - might not be yours.

[dvbear]

ME and mistermonday thanks many. I tried both your processes and it does look a lot better.

Here is the edited pic. And damn for all these years of photoshop, I never knew you could adjust blacks using selective color! I've always been going back into RAW to do it, but this makes my life easier.

[mistermonday]

Looks great,
Reagrds, Murray

[ME_wwwing]

dvBear - i'm been playing with PS for about 10 yrs. and still learning.
glad those tips helped

[holgaman]

Hi dvbear,
I think you did a great job of outlining, and your second version is definitely more believable. Nice work. Just a couple of things to keep in mind for future composites -

-Be aware of the direction of the lighting. It doesn't always have to match because the background could be lit separately. It's probably more important to notice direction of light when combining two outdoor, available light shots.

-Do the camera angles in the two shots match? Yours do here, so that really helps. Just something to keep in mind. I just saw a composite where the main subject was shot from slightly below with a background of clouds shot from an airplane. Made me dizzy.http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/images/icons/icon9.gif

Aside from the technical aspects, when choosing a background consider whether that background supports, or is in harmony with the pose, expression, clothing, etc. of the main subject. It's unclear, to me at least, what the message of your composite is. Try some other combinations with a different pose/expression or different background and see what happens. Looks like you're having fun, keep it up!

[dvbear]

Thanks for the advice. I was actually on Christopher Huets website and see how he does an exceptional job at masking and combining elements. This was the first thought I had so I tried it out.

[holgaman]

Huet certainly does amazing work, thanks for pointing him out.

[tom60634]

Maybe a bit darker, grittier overall look might unify the look.

The gun background is a somber kind of lethal look, while the lighting and pastel color of your shirt put you in lighter airier place.

Just a thought.