Which One? (Page 3): I suggest you wait for a good sky with clouds then go to a location that gives you a view to the horizon, or close to it, and shoot several shots with the horizon...

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

mffox wrote:

Here are two versions of the same photo; (1) the original image and (2) the original with sky replacement. I did the edit because I found the sky boring, but now I need expert guidance from the UHH experts. Thanks.

Mark

I suggest you wait for a good sky with clouds then go to a location that gives you a view to the horizon, or close to it, and shoot several shots with the horizon line at or very close to the bottom of the frame. Use one of those sky images for your sky replacements, placing the sky horizon line at or slightly below the horizon line in the image for which you want a better sky. The key to a believable sky replacement, IMO, is for the sky to reflect the same perspective as the image in which it is placed.

Stan

chuckwh

#2

Lucian Loc: From Wales, living in Ohio

Longshadow wrote:

I've seen clouds down to the horizon in Florida.

Yes you do, but those on the horizon in real life are no where near as large as the ones shown in this sky swap comparison the OP has included here. As with any object in an image, be it on the ground or in the sky, such as a cloud, the further away it is, the smaller it looks.

That is the problem here, the size of the clouds are not prospectively correct for the what is shown. When swapping out a sky the maker needs to find a range of clouds that look the same as the range of sky that maker is swapping out. Plus, they need to make sure the direction of the sun on those clouds, match the direction of the sun showing in the shadows in the real foreground photo. If they don't, that too will be a dead give away that it is a fake and look odd to the viewer.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Lucian wrote:

Yes you do, but those on the horizon in real life ... (show quote)

The "problem" is only if one allows it to be, instead of simply looking at the image as an image.
EVERY image can be picked apart by someone for something.

I would rather enjoy the image for what it is as opposed to looking for "what is wrong with it" save being level, I don't care for not level.

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

#2

vpeek1947 Loc: Louisville, Ky

#2 - the clouds and sky are better

samantha90 Loc: Fort Worth,Texas

#2 I think the addition you did made the entire photo appear brighter.

SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

mffox wrote:

Here are two versions of the same photo; (1) the original image and (2) the original with sky replacement. I did the edit because I found the sky boring, but now I need expert guidance from the UHH experts. Thanks.

Mark

No.1 The sky replacement doesn't match the scene. The perspective of the clouds don't match the original scene and your image horizon doesn't match the horizon of the sky replacement.

Additionally, the lighting direction on the clouds don't appear match your scene. The suns position, based on the shadow of the foreground bush show the sun is high, slightly forward and to the left. The sun's position in the sky replacement is lower on the horizon and appears to be behind and left of the camera.

boncrayon

The 2nd one has better lighting.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

No. 1. Because it looks natural. No. 2 has a lot of blown areas and that detracts. There's an old saying, "Just because one can do something doesn't mean they should do that something."
--Bob

mffox wrote:

Here are two versions of the same photo; (1) the original image and (2) the original with sky replacement. I did the edit because I found the sky boring, but now I need expert guidance from the UHH experts. Thanks.

Mark

nosretep Loc: S. W. Montana

2

lowkick Loc: Connecticut

Toment wrote:

The second looks fake because the horizon is missing.

Bubalola Loc: Big Apple, NY

tradio wrote:

I did not notice it at first but #2 does look fake when you stare at it.

True.

Jim Jensen

Me, too! (That is, vote for #2).

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

mffox wrote:

Here are two versions of the same photo; (1) the original image and (2) the original with sky replacement. I did the edit because I found the sky boring, but now I need expert guidance from the UHH experts. Thanks.

Mark

I like the cloudy sky added.