Need Some Feedback - PhotoShop

[The President]

So after a while I thought to myself... hmm how do all those really good photographers get that sick ass sky look in all their pics while properly exposing the subject. After trying multiple camera settings and only getting dark images and nice skies or bright skies and nice subject lighting I thought I'd try something a bit different. HDR is cool and all but I think it's way over used so, here is what I did.

Original Pic:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h38/phoenixheat/DSC01771.jpg


Edited:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h38/phoenixheat/DropInSky.jpg

Now my question is... does it look completely unrealistic? I only edited the sky into the pic. No editing in the actual subject before or after the editing.

[Jason.AZ1]

I like it just not purple

[The President]

thanks Jason. I think I'm going to try and do more of this on my next photoshoot. leaving out the purple of course haha

[Jason.AZ1]

thanks Jason. I think I'm going to try and do more of this on my next photoshoot. leaving out the purple of course haha

Yeah I like it, and I have the same problem when I shoot in the daytime
I either get no sky good pic or dark pic good sky
But I mostly shoot at night which doesnt bother me :rflmao:

[bryantiscool]

It would look a lot better if the cut off line on the sky wasn't so defined
a longer blend to make it seem natural would look much better

[azjared]

im not diggin the purple, i made this one using a sky picture i got from google.

might be a bit drastic but gives you another option to look at.

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8880/dsc01771copy.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/i/dsc01771copy.jpg/)

[jägermeister]

not sure what process you are currently using, but I would edit the sky in one layer, edit the buildings in another, and the car/surface in another. I would keep the base layer the complete picture and filter the top layers on to it. Merge and then do some final touches. Since you are darkening the sky, you'll have to adjust the reflection on the buildings as well to give it a more realistic look.

[bryantiscool]

That's the way to do it Jared.
Looks a lot better

[The President]

not sure what process you are currently using, but I would edit the sky in one layer, edit the buildings in another, and the car/surface in another. I would keep the base layer the complete picture and filter the top layers on to it. Merge and then do some final touches. Since you are darkening the sky, you'll have to adjust the reflection on the buildings as well to give it a more realistic look.

I'll have to give this a whirl. When you say filter the top layers, do you mean opacity? I don't know if i've used that any kind of layer filter tool.

Basically all I did was cut out the sky on mine, then took a picture I took from an airplane and copied in behind the image. I think I got the general technique down but I'll work on the other things that you mentioned as well.

Thanks!

im not diggin the purple, i made this one using a sky picture i got from google.

might be a bit drastic but gives you another option to look at.

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8880/dsc01771copy.jpg (http://img11.imageshack.us/i/dsc01771copy.jpg/)

I like that a lot. the only thing I don't like about that is just that the sunlight is seemingly right in the middle of the sky and it gets dark off to the right. Realistically, the sun would be on the right side lighting the face of the buildings and having a lighter sky there.

I certainly like the more natural look though. I think I'll snap a few sky pics and use them from now on. it might take longer to photoshot but it's really the only way to get the subject and the sky lit properly w/o additional lighting or HDR.

It would look a lot better if the cut off line on the sky wasn't so defined
a longer blend to make it seem natural would look much better

It was just a pic of the sky I had from my last flight. That's why the clouds and the bluer sky come together in a more abrupt way. I was just using to try and get the technique down.

[JDM Jon]

Looks better that's for sure! Just not the purple tone. The one azjared did looks awesome :thumbup:

[GTABurnout]

I have done this before for pictures. the key from my point of view is making sure where the two images come togather there isn't a seem. IE: the buildings in your first picture need some cleaning up to make sure the seem is not noticable.

[Pendulum]

Honestly, the trick is to expose for the sky and light your subject to expose properly. But, if you're poor like me and can't afford a bunch of lighting, then I expose for the sky and get one or two good shots, then shoot the car and just replace the sky in Photoshop.


Example of exposing for sun and luighting subject. N ot perfect, considering I had about 2 seconds to get ready for this shot.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3476/3255637365_a63f6aff46.jpg


Example of replacing a sky
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/3190040473_cca4e57532.jpg

[jakellama123]

or wait for a cloudy day LOL
camera phone pic
0 editing
http://i26.tinypic.com/2j30duw.jpg

[94EXCIVIC]

and be under exposed

[die in a dick fire noob]

i know you say hdr is overused but compiling exposures is going to be one of the only ways to achieve it in some situations.

other than that use lens filters to help, split neutral densitys or circular polarizers will work wonders, especially with a stationary target.

i personally would do hdr's but with realistic tone mapping. or you could in fact take two exposures 1 for the sky and 1 for your subject.