Portrait meet Composite

[journeybetween]

Canon 40D
Lens: 28-75mm Tamron
Focal Length: 28mm
f 4.5
1/4 shutter
Photoshop CS3

I've been exploring different Photoshop techniques and would like to know how successful this image is. The portrait was composited on the background, which was created in photoshop, I then copied the portrait layer to create the drop shadow.

Does this appear to be a "believe-able" image? Is there an easier or more effective way to create the desired effect?

Thanks.

[Father Bob]

Interesting pose. His being bound and blindfolded creates an emotional response to his plight. Would be interesting to composite the subject into a different background; maybe a prison yard or dusty village street kind of thing.

However, his backside appears to be hovering above the surface. Looks like he should be sitting on something or he's levitating. Perhaps raise the horizon line a tad?

Not sure about the lighting. The light appears to be behind him and yet there is a bright reflection in front of him.

Al

[journeybetween]

I had actually taken the portrait for a different project, but was using it for the Photoshop experimentation, so the complete image is less about impact and more about technical execution. I also see what you do with the backside floating, but wasn't sure if it was just me staring at it for too long or actually an issue.

Does anyone have any tricks for better execution?

I appreciate the feedback

Amb