How can I make this more "natural"?

[F4bien]

Hello everyone,

For a photobooth project, I made this photoshop:


This photoshop is composed by 2 photos (background with people + box).

I made some modifications:
- strech the background
- add an effect to make the "white" of the box whiter

But I am not still convinced by the visuel. I found it to much "amateur" like a bad mountage, not enough natural.

Do you agree with me?

I really want something natural (for the wood) and beautifull colors.

What would you do?

PS: you could find my PSD in attached pieceView attachment Slide.psd

 

[tuutuutuut]

using the gradient tool (radial / black / white) on the layer mask of this woody object and then apply filter 'lens blur' with alpha layer selected.
it will generate a 'bokeh effect/depth of field'

also there is no cast of shadow on the foreground.

 

[Eggy]

You'll need to learn working with light.
In your composite the light is coming from behind the 'jumping girls'. The 'box' isn't showing any highlights nor shadows.



Use gradients and/or dodge and burn tools.

 

[IamSam]

using the gradient tool (radial / black / white) on the layer mask of this woody object and then apply filter 'lens blur' with alpha layer selected.
it will generate a 'bokeh effect/depth of field'

also there is no cast of shadow on the foreground.

Yeah, I tried to follow your instructions and could not make this work. I really tried. You will have to provide some images to support your explanation.

 

[F4bien]

I followed your advices:

I had for the wood box:
- a gradient overlay (black/white from the top to the bottom with a little angle)
- a drop shadow with the same direction than before

For the background, I had a lens blur effect.

Here is the result:


it's better!

I have an additional question:
Now I made the "lens blur" effect, I can't cancel it. Is there a non destructive way to do it?

 

[Argos]

Nice try, i think you need to adapt a little better the left part of the picture to the right part, and remove the sshadows of the box, something like this, (This is a fast example very porly done).

 

[Tom Mann]

I think the real problem is simply that the box-like device that the OP is attempting to add looks so utterly fake - at best, an unrealistic attempt at a 3d render, whereas the background image is clearly a nice, realistic photo, so, no matter how one tries to shade the box, soften the edges, or make other minor changes, it's always going to look like a fake.

IMHO, if one would start with a more realistic device, one would have a much easier time producing a convincing composite. For example, here's something I grabbed off the web and composited in.

Tom M

 

[F4bien]

I was not a home those last days so I reply just now.

Tom, your opinion is important for me. As you said "it's always going to look like a fake." with minor changes.

So I decided to keep my last picture. It's pretty much good for my use

And thank you everyone for your suggestions!

 

[Tom Mann]

Love it! Glad you got something you can use out of the discussion here on PSG.

T