Why does the background look fake?

[kcmocopper]

I took this picture the other day. Can anyone tell me why the background looks so fake. I am a beginning photographer and this is really bugging me! I was using a nikon n65 with a nikon 50 mm 1.8 lens. ISO 100, Aperture f16, speed 90, stroboframe with flash.
I know this isnt't a s2 but I will be getting one in 2 weeks. I can't wait! My wife and I are really getting into Photography and are enjoying ourselves as you can see here in this picture of my little girl (daddies girl). Thanks for your help.:) :)

http://www.swpoa.com/5-27-03-3.jpg

[jscampbell]

If you tone down the fill flash by a stop or two, it will look a lot more natural.

[memobug]

What about the background makes it look fake to you? When I look at it, I see the background as a bit overexposed, in-focus, with the waterfall "frozen" and a piece of pipe jutting out above the waterfall.

Taking those one at a time, you might want to use a polarizer or ND filter to let you smooth the water a bit with a longer shutter speed, and perhaps put a little color back into the sky. At the same time, the background may begin to blur a little at the wider aperture, which will make the photo a little more three dimensional. As to that piece of pipe or yardstick up there, you can clone it out.

I completely agree with the suggestion to bring down the fill level.

Good luck. I am sure you'll enjoy digital shooting!

Regards,

Matt

[rbeckerelite]

I like your image a lot however, I do know what you mean by "looking fake."

The reason is that your subject is brighter than your background. To make a gross generalization, in portrait photography photographers try to imitate natural light. Seemingly one light source, one shadow etc.

Problems that I see:

1. The direction of the light on your subject doesn't match the light on your background.
Possible solution: re-orient yourself so your camera flash will approximate the direction of the sun.

2. The intensity of your flash is brighter than your background. We normally don't see people in natural light being brighter than the background.
Possible solution: tone down the flash exposure. Remember that in flash photography, as long as you don't shoot any faster than the fastest flash sync speed, your f-stop is the exposure control at your disposal. ie: Close down 1/2 - 1 stop to correct your overexposure from the flash. Don't forget to slow down your shutter speed to compensate for this because the light on the background needs to remain the same as you have it now. Ambient light exposures are controlled by f-stop AND shutter speed.

Best regards,

Randy Becker

[quill]

I'd take two approaches and one suggestion!

Suggestion: Include the feet. You can always crop them later, but you can't add them. They place the subject in a context, and I think would solve much of your dilemma right off.

1. I'd use Aperture mode, a tripod and slow shutter. Shoot the flash a -1.5 comp and the back at -0.5 so as not to loose the sky completely. Use a small aperture that will allow good flash at that distance and plenty of time to blur the water. Just dial down the aperture until you get a 15th shutter or so.

2. As mentioned above, reorient your flash to match the light falling on the water - just stretch out the flash cord!

Cheers,

Quill