Indian Maiden

[windrider86]

Took this shot in Santa Fe a number of months ago. The background left a lot to be desired so I put a new in. Sadly now the exif info is reading the background for which I found off of Google iamges. I did however shoot the stature with my Fuji900.
I'm pretty raw at doing this so what i did was tot ake the orginal pic and erease everything around it and then paste it as a new layer onto the new background. I tried to use the smudge tool to even out a couple spots but have a hard time using that as everything literally smudges all over the place.

[jiminyClickit]

windrider86,

This is more a post processing issue, but for critique, the highlights on the Maiden are at odds with the new background, so it appears to be a flash photo in the desert. If that was your intention, you nailed it.

When you edit, can/do you enlarge/zoom in to get the most detail you can? This, and choosing a small smudge tool will give you the best chance of not oversmudging. And less coffee.

Without looking at a larger version of this, I don't see what you've described.

[windrider86]

You can tell if you look at her hair on her left. Maybe i should try the smuging before I paste on a new background?

[jiminyClickit]

windrider86,

All three things: zoom in as much as you're comfortable with, use a brush whose control you are sure of, and use the white blank background to work against, before pasting, or turn off that layer as you work on Maiden. If it looks good against white, you're ready to paste. There's also a theory that imperfection actually resembles reality better, that a perfect trim will stand out as an edit. I leave a little bit when I erase, or blend; seems to ease the transition. Practice, and your eyes, will get the look you want.

[windrider86]

Awsome tip! Thank you and will try the white background on my next project. Thank you!

[clockdoc]

windreider86,
I think you did a very nice job with this. Do you have the original to show for comparision? Thanks, Jiminy, for those tips as I have much to learn about post processing myself.

[R.E. Smith]

I like what you have done as well, nice job.

[windrider86]

Here is the orginal. I just was not happy with the background.

[clockdoc]

Thanks for posting the original. Your new shot looks like it could have come from a museum's diorama display.

[windrider86]

hee he. No the background is actually from an area in New mexcio and the statue was taken in Sante Fe New mexico so i thought the 2 went hand in hand