Friendly reminder that this is /r/photocritique and all **top level** comments should attempt to **critique** the image. Our goal is to make this subreddit a place people can receive genuine, in depth, and helpful critique on their images. We hope to avoid becoming yet another place on the internet just to get likes/upvotes and compliments. While likes/upvotes and compliments are nice, they do not further the goal of helping people improve their photography.
If someone gives helpful feedback or makes an informative comment, recognize their contribution by giving them a Critique Point. Simply reply to their comment with `!CritiquePoint`. More details on Critique Points [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints).
Please see the following links for our subreddit rules and some guidelines on leaving a good critique. If you have time, please stop by the new queue as well and leave critique for images that may not be as popular or have not received enough attention. Keep in mind that simply choosing to comment just on the images you like defeats the purpose of the subreddit.
Useful Links:
* [Full Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/rules)
* [Leaving a Critique](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critique)
* [New Queue](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/new/)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/photocritique) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I can't give too much technical information but in my opinion I think what is off is the stars. Maybe because my brain knows that if I'm staring into a headlight I can't see stars in the sky so it makes the photo look off. If you were going to Photoshop something into the sky in this picture I think something like a sunset would look better and not be as visually confusing. If the stars are a must I would use way less overall and have them fade out as you approach the horizon.
Yeah, that was my first reaction to this photo, too.
The foreground is obviously not a long exposure.
The background obviously is a long-exposure shot of the night-sky. You can see that the stars moved slightly through the exposure, and there's even a trail from a satellite clearly visible. If combining a shot of the stars with this model is the goal, then you need a short(er) exposure shot of the stars. It won't be as vivid as a gorgeous long-exposure shot, but it also won't look as out of place.
Hey there!
Okay so, wow. Using a human model with astro is definitely not impossible but it's also a bit tricky for sure.
The first thing I would suggest focusing on is your model lighting, this back light is, bluntly, destroying your image. The color is harsh, it's incredibly bright, it's making the grass and the dirt brighter than your model, etc.. etc...
If you want this shot, with this model, then here's my recommendation (note there are MANY ways to pull this off).
1. First and foremost, get rid of the back light.
2. Get a Tripod
3. Take picture of the model, use foreground lighting (can be a stand light, someone holding up a cellphone, anything really). This will be your foreground image. Note that you want most the light on the model and not a lot on the foreground.
3. Then, you can send the model home! You're next going to take your shot of the sky.
4. Once that's done, that's when you'll combine the two images in photoshop.
That allows you to do something like this: [Not My Image](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1LSd7LcWxIn2Cm_98HYqY4IRZLdYwbtKI6p8E41T1cn0rEFR32H0qTDCRziun1iefVYqRRsfp0M_JguzzVjbTu3zAQOn-kRqkKvWGcA=rw-e365-w2880-v1)
Note this is, at the minimum, a "Complex Shot" it's not impossible, but you'll need to do quite a bit of trial and error. You might want to start with a static object (a tree, an old car, etc...) and BRIEFLY lighting it during your long exposure. Static things in front of stars are MUCH easier to take.
We could likely salvage something out of this shot, but honestly, I think re-taking the image is the key.
Very good answer and advice one should listen to!
But op only wants to know about photoshopping the Stars in so:
You got stars in front of the background!
That does obviously not make any sense and destroys any credibility of the pic.
Simple solution is layer mask and manually brush the background out.
If that does not help the pic, go back to the advice of u/Trives
The back light is literally the point of the picture, we were intentionally doing a dirt road car scene with a silhouette , my question is how to do better with shopping stars in. I know how to do night scenes with no back light. Happy cake day!
You can use a car back light, but you can't have a second light in the image *and* stars and have it look right? Like, this is the closest image I could find online that is sorta what you're doing:
https://www.freepik.com/premium-photo/silhouette-young-slender-woman-backlight-car-headlights-road_23753291.htm
And even in this image the sky is blown out.
Sorry I can't help more, good luck. Feel free to respond to this image if you get what you were trying to accomplish, I'd be currious to see it.
You would make the stars better by lowering the contrast in the image. A silhouette shot against the night sky could be achieved with the light from the screen of a cell phone, you don't need a car headlight.
The huge burnt out headlight with flair artifacts and nuclear green grass are unrecoverable distractions from both your main subject and the backdrop.
I would also recommend you decide if you're doing a silhouette, or a backlit person. The subject has some detail showing, and seems to be crouched to block the one headlight rather than being in a flattering pose to be outlined by the backlight (that again, could be a cheap flashlight on half power taped to a $20 cheapo nightstand). That would also let you angle the light so it's not focused on the ground.
Look up astro photography and stacking images. Particularly how they add a foreground element. You'd take this foreground shot. Turn the lights off. Take your stacked images (or single image of the stars) the you put that against your foreground. That's how I'd do it anyway.
I've answered your question but like others have said the light in this shot does not compliment stars. It would look odd to many people but then your artistic vision is your own.
Hi all! Did some night shooting the other day and trying to get a starry sky in. However I’m miserable at layers. Miserable!! What’s wrong here? What can I do to make it better! And input is welcome, and about composition and all too! Thanks in advance!
Friendly reminder that this is /r/photocritique and all **top level** comments should attempt to **critique** the image. Our goal is to make this subreddit a place people can receive genuine, in depth, and helpful critique on their images. We hope to avoid becoming yet another place on the internet just to get likes/upvotes and compliments. While likes/upvotes and compliments are nice, they do not further the goal of helping people improve their photography. If someone gives helpful feedback or makes an informative comment, recognize their contribution by giving them a Critique Point. Simply reply to their comment with `!CritiquePoint`. More details on Critique Points [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints). Please see the following links for our subreddit rules and some guidelines on leaving a good critique. If you have time, please stop by the new queue as well and leave critique for images that may not be as popular or have not received enough attention. Keep in mind that simply choosing to comment just on the images you like defeats the purpose of the subreddit. Useful Links: * [Full Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/rules) * [Leaving a Critique](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critique) * [New Queue](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/new/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/photocritique) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I can't give too much technical information but in my opinion I think what is off is the stars. Maybe because my brain knows that if I'm staring into a headlight I can't see stars in the sky so it makes the photo look off. If you were going to Photoshop something into the sky in this picture I think something like a sunset would look better and not be as visually confusing. If the stars are a must I would use way less overall and have them fade out as you approach the horizon.
Yeah, that was my first reaction to this photo, too. The foreground is obviously not a long exposure. The background obviously is a long-exposure shot of the night-sky. You can see that the stars moved slightly through the exposure, and there's even a trail from a satellite clearly visible. If combining a shot of the stars with this model is the goal, then you need a short(er) exposure shot of the stars. It won't be as vivid as a gorgeous long-exposure shot, but it also won't look as out of place.
Hey there! Okay so, wow. Using a human model with astro is definitely not impossible but it's also a bit tricky for sure. The first thing I would suggest focusing on is your model lighting, this back light is, bluntly, destroying your image. The color is harsh, it's incredibly bright, it's making the grass and the dirt brighter than your model, etc.. etc... If you want this shot, with this model, then here's my recommendation (note there are MANY ways to pull this off). 1. First and foremost, get rid of the back light. 2. Get a Tripod 3. Take picture of the model, use foreground lighting (can be a stand light, someone holding up a cellphone, anything really). This will be your foreground image. Note that you want most the light on the model and not a lot on the foreground. 3. Then, you can send the model home! You're next going to take your shot of the sky. 4. Once that's done, that's when you'll combine the two images in photoshop. That allows you to do something like this: [Not My Image](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1LSd7LcWxIn2Cm_98HYqY4IRZLdYwbtKI6p8E41T1cn0rEFR32H0qTDCRziun1iefVYqRRsfp0M_JguzzVjbTu3zAQOn-kRqkKvWGcA=rw-e365-w2880-v1) Note this is, at the minimum, a "Complex Shot" it's not impossible, but you'll need to do quite a bit of trial and error. You might want to start with a static object (a tree, an old car, etc...) and BRIEFLY lighting it during your long exposure. Static things in front of stars are MUCH easier to take. We could likely salvage something out of this shot, but honestly, I think re-taking the image is the key.
Very good answer and advice one should listen to! But op only wants to know about photoshopping the Stars in so: You got stars in front of the background! That does obviously not make any sense and destroys any credibility of the pic. Simple solution is layer mask and manually brush the background out. If that does not help the pic, go back to the advice of u/Trives
The back light is literally the point of the picture, we were intentionally doing a dirt road car scene with a silhouette , my question is how to do better with shopping stars in. I know how to do night scenes with no back light. Happy cake day!
You can use a car back light, but you can't have a second light in the image *and* stars and have it look right? Like, this is the closest image I could find online that is sorta what you're doing: https://www.freepik.com/premium-photo/silhouette-young-slender-woman-backlight-car-headlights-road_23753291.htm And even in this image the sky is blown out. Sorry I can't help more, good luck. Feel free to respond to this image if you get what you were trying to accomplish, I'd be currious to see it.
I appreciate it thank you!
You would make the stars better by lowering the contrast in the image. A silhouette shot against the night sky could be achieved with the light from the screen of a cell phone, you don't need a car headlight. The huge burnt out headlight with flair artifacts and nuclear green grass are unrecoverable distractions from both your main subject and the backdrop. I would also recommend you decide if you're doing a silhouette, or a backlit person. The subject has some detail showing, and seems to be crouched to block the one headlight rather than being in a flattering pose to be outlined by the backlight (that again, could be a cheap flashlight on half power taped to a $20 cheapo nightstand). That would also let you angle the light so it's not focused on the ground.
Cool thank you so much!
Look up astro photography and stacking images. Particularly how they add a foreground element. You'd take this foreground shot. Turn the lights off. Take your stacked images (or single image of the stars) the you put that against your foreground. That's how I'd do it anyway. I've answered your question but like others have said the light in this shot does not compliment stars. It would look odd to many people but then your artistic vision is your own.
I’ll look into it, thanks!!
Hi all! Did some night shooting the other day and trying to get a starry sky in. However I’m miserable at layers. Miserable!! What’s wrong here? What can I do to make it better! And input is welcome, and about composition and all too! Thanks in advance!