Sand Dune Sunset  by jgpittenger

Sand Dune Sunset

We have rain and overcast again so I figured it was time to try out PS' new sky selection tool and substitute a more interesting sky. I also flipped it and added blur for the reflections. Do you think it is believable?
Thanks for your visits, comments, suggestions, favs
very effective. I like it.
December 6th, 2020  
convinced me
December 6th, 2020  
Very good match.

As an aside: Several things that have notice in poor quality matches, between ground and sky, is where the light is coming from. And if you are familiar with the foreground, does the sun really come from that direction in the sky. Also from postcards, are they putting the same sunset/sky behind multiple locations, I personally have never seen two sunsets/sunrises that are identical. For example, Mt Rushmore with a sunset behind it. Hint: to see Rushmore face on, you are looking north.

Thanks for you patience. You have a wonderful photo.
December 6th, 2020  
Looks very natural, I would have never suspected it! Lovely image.
December 6th, 2020  
@byrdlip I totally agree and, yes, the sun is coming from the same direction in the imported sky as it was in real life. I have to laugh at your comment since I just recently posted an image for critique in a Photographic Society of America study group and one of the comments suggested that I flip a photo horizontally so it would read from left to right. My response was that it was a dawn photo and anyone who knew the area knew that the sun would be rising in the East- to the right of the shot.! His response was "I won't tell anyone"
December 6th, 2020  
your picture caught - didn't quite know why. After reading the caption I, too (?), noticed a mismatch in light direction in the sky (from behind right) and on the mountain (from left). It is subtle, though, and I would have probably missed it without your explanation.
But compliments on the reflection - great job there!
December 6th, 2020  
wonderful job with the sky replacement and reflection. I don't think I would have noticed if you had not explained what you did. So looking more carefully I seem to want to play with the reflection but I'm not sure how. Maybe try darkening a bit or playing with the blue of the water.
December 6th, 2020  
Gorgeous
December 6th, 2020  
Well done!
December 6th, 2020  
Great job, fantastic edition
December 6th, 2020  
Believable? No. At least not for me, but maybe I am a jaded post-processor. Dreamy? Yes.
December 6th, 2020  
For your run of the mill friends (not photographers) the image is perfectly beautiful. It does seem a bit off to me but it is lovely overall.
December 6th, 2020  
@bpfoto you are absolutely right. I was seeing the light coming from low left in sky as well as dune but I see you are right
December 7th, 2020  
Beautiful, Jane. Love the reflections in the water in the foreground and the Dunes in the background
December 7th, 2020  
The chance to be creative and imaginative is time well-spent. The light on the hills is beautiful.
December 7th, 2020  
Wow, beautiful capture, the sand dunes look almost magical in the distance. Great job on the sky replacement
December 7th, 2020  
Very nice subdued hues.
December 7th, 2020  
This looks so good against black - love the sky and what you did with that - like the lighting on those hills
December 7th, 2020  
Great shot and edit. Looks very real to me. Think the sky replacement worked very well.
December 7th, 2020  
Beautiful!!
December 7th, 2020  
Fav
December 7th, 2020  
It works well...lighting feels 'right' and the blur is enough to make it seem natural. I just updated PS and am taking a course with @jyokota online so am hoping this will be the year of using PS effectively, instead of my "I know how to do that one thing" approach!
December 7th, 2020  
I agree with @taffy -- it''s completely believable and feels like a well-captured beautifully natural scene. As for learning PS, it's kind of a running joke that every year I update my profile to say, I'm going to learn PS this year.
December 7th, 2020  
I find you did an amazing job, it looks perfectly natural to to me. Love the reflections and light.
December 7th, 2020  
I like the overall scene - it's very pleasant. When I had a close look I wondered about the directions of the shadows on the dunes versus the directions of the shadows in the clouds? The only other comment would be about the size of the reflection appearing in the water - for the line of reflection there seems to be a little too much mountain height visible? Mind you - I only looked closely because of your question - overall it is very nice. Looks like it would have been fun to play with too. Kind regards Rob
December 7th, 2020  
Great job and edit. I am not a PS enthusiast, although I also do it sometimes. What matters is the effect of the image as a whole. Well, unless you're making a document. The whole thing makes a good impression and it is pleasant to watch.
December 7th, 2020  
Gorgeous big skies
December 7th, 2020  
Terrific :)
December 7th, 2020  
pretty
December 7th, 2020  
Beautiful, love the reflection in that puddle of water.
December 7th, 2020  
It looks believable to me :)
December 7th, 2020  
@robz lol! The sand dune (mountain) reflection actually is exactly as it was. But I do think the direction of the sun in the clouds was wrong. Fun to play with though
December 7th, 2020  
@taffy @jyokota what on line course are you taking?
December 7th, 2020  
@jgpittenger @jyokota can explain
December 7th, 2020  
Very effective and clever
December 7th, 2020  
Beautiful- fav
December 7th, 2020  
Beautifully edited, a lovely capture.Fav😊
December 7th, 2020  
@jgpittenger That's so funny Jane! Just goes to show that the eye doesn't always believe what it sees - makes life interesting hey! I like the idea of having a bank of skyscapes to use to add interest (or remove something yucky) - it sounds like a collecting project worth playing with. Thanks for sharing your fun. Cheers Rob
December 7th, 2020  
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