Realistic Shadows

The Purpose:

For this assignment my intent was to find two pictures that would fit well together and then place an object in the background. The main idea behind this is that I would learn how to make an object look like it belonged in the picture using shadows. 

The Process: 

 I selected the Seahorse with the quick select tool in photoshop. Then I refined the edges a bit and feathered it. Next, I made a blue background and went Layer>Matting>Defringe to get rid of any extra pixel fringe. After that I used a tutorial of how to make a realistic shadow. Then I simply placed it in the other picture and made it seem realistic.

What I learned:

Now I can create realistic looking Photoshopped pictures because I can create shadows that make it seem like objects fit in to their environment.

 Original picture:

  Object:    

      

With the shadow:

The final product: