Mountain top semi-candid shot

[TheTownSheriff]

Was setting up the tripod and taking some test shots, got this one I rather liked but the issue I have with it is the background almost looks like a backdrop. I didn't want to blur the location any more than the little I did, since the whole point is to show where we traveled.

Is this something just I am seeing? If you do see it as well, do you know of any ways to combat this sort of thing? One of my friends already commented that it looked photoshopped.

Aperture : f/7
Shutter: 160
ISO: 100
No flash

Thanks!

[MrJones]

first I want to say that it didn't looked like a backdrop to me, till you pointed that out.
I think you have this feeling because of lightning issues, the model is in the shade while the background gets some sun light which makes them seem not connected.

[TheTownSheriff]

Thanks for the reply, I didn't even notice my g/f was in the shade of a cloud because she came out so bright, thanks for making me notice. I was worried it was a setting on my camera that made it turn out this way. Perhaps if I had used fill flash it would have came out more even.

[MrJones]

i took the liberty of playing with it a bit, brightening it up a bit, I think it's better now.
hope you don't mind.

[TheTownSheriff]

Thanks a lot, if you don't mind me asking how did you achieve the brightening?

[MrJones]

opened it up in photoshop.
added a brightness / contrast layer
boosted up the brightness and a bit for the contrast.
and that's it.

you can do it in any other software.

[TheTownSheriff]

Thanks a lot, will play around with it.