Photo Editing Without Caffeine... There Should Be A Law About That

I have an edit to do today. Here's my half-@$$ed sleepy attempt... after losing sleep the last few nights and up way too early for no reason at all. Because I have to have something to complain about, right? But on to today's thing.

The edit. And the original. Remember this thingy? (And by the way, go check out some more great photos.)

The SOOC:

I didn't like the background, and that's really all I wanted to change. I've also been seeing a lot of composite editing lately and have wanted to try it, so... here's my first ever attempt.

I don't have many stock photos in my files of just plain winter backgrounds, so this was it. I got rid of the building and teacher (she's really super nice but kids still wanna have fun without the adults around, right?) and put in this shrubbery type thing. Then I incorporated some of the editing suggestions from Ashley at Ramblings and Photos. I did a few more tone and levels adjustments, and voila.

I like it. In a totally surreal kind of way. To me, it looks a little fake, almost like a magazine ad. So does that mean it looks professional? I think so. But only in the most amateur unprofessional way. Because that's how I do it.

(Update: My next post shows how I did it.)

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Taken with my Canon Rebel XSi, and edited with PS Elements.