Four images to illustrate my method of superimposing backgrounds on to otherwise duller images.

Top Image: The as shot image of a male Goldeneye in flight. (1/1000 s, F8.0 and @ 400 mm)


The as shot far shoreline (1/1600 s, F 8.0 and @ 80 mm)


Top image cropped with only minor adjustments to brightness, shadows and sharpness. (Note, this image is included only for comparison with the last image. It is not a step in the process to achieve to final merged image below.)


The final merged image. The original far shore image (#2)is superimposed (cloned) on to the upper part of the original Goldeneye image (#1) after first lowering the Goldeneye(cloning) to create more space above the bird. The combined image was then cropped and adjusted for brightness, shadows and sharpness. (Note: when cloning the background on to the upper part of image # 1, clone first along the interface of the shore and water using a small brush and horizontal strokes.)