Suggestions on how to improve this technique

I have been having some fun this summer with layers and combing images, but still feel like I can make the images a little smoother. Interested in any suggestions. Right now create layers and Auto Align the images and then use the magnetic lasso, inverse the selection and delete all but the diver. Any better ways to make the selection?

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These types of pics work better when the subjects do not overlap. The lack of subtle shadow cast between the subject on sequential frames take away from the pics. Also, masking a leg so that it appears "behind" an arm of the last frame, when in reality the order should be reversed or the two should be clipped, makes it look "off."
e.g.

I'd agree that you did a good job. Of course there are subtleties with things like drop shadows, but, well, at a look I'd say anyone would be impressed, especially a parent.

As to how to handle, differentiate the background from the kids, well, the farther you go the more critical your selections will be. For example, once you have "cut out" the kids, you could apply some lens blur to the background layer. If your selections are well done, then you can get some great effects from that -- go ahead and try and see whether the selections "hold up" -- on scrutiny you may have to refine those selections to ensure that everything stays good, although Refining the Edge can also come into play to make things "blend" and prevent things looking too "cut out".

But, like I said, any of the parents who sees these shots will probably say "WOW!"

Thank you both for your suggestions. Good job on the running picture. I like the flow, I was going for the overlap in these images to try for something different. You are right about making sure you have the arms and legs correct. Keeping the stacking order correct is very important. In the big group shots I have been working on, in some like above I have placed a few individual images because they were lost in the crowd.

Tony, thanks for your suggestions. You are right, the parents and kids really like the pictures, but I know I can do better. I am going to work on the drop shadows and lens blur on the background. I am also going to work on the refining the edge. Any good suggestions would be helpful.

Here is an image where is used a different technique.

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I haven't done any of this sort of thing in a couple of years... still not satisfied with the color, call it procrastination.

I was lookig at this posting out of curiosity and must say that I am very impressed - these are really neat and very creative. Chauncey, I am particularly interested in how you did the ones with the birds, as I have a sequence I shot last spring of a Canada Goose coming in for a landing in one of the local wetlands and I think it would be an ideal set of images for me to try this with. Would you car to share how you did this, or do you have any references to a web page or pages that I could follow up with? Thanks.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

Here is the tecnique in GIMP but I think that is suitable also for PS or other ones: http://meetthegimp.org​/episode-044-splitting-myself/

Those are really fun. here is something similar I did a few weeks back. Faking in Shadows are super important to make something like that look real. I have also fallen in love with the pen tool for masking

^^ That is cool. I think creating composites may be the way 'professional' photographers make money in the future.

The splash can DEFINITELY be fixed on the last of the OP's picture posts.

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I agree, the splash is something I am working on with the photos. Been working on ways to blend it better. Also, like Will said I need to work on the shadows and Tony's suggestion be a little better on the cut and feather a little better.

I like your image Zolth, the one with my daughter on the swings was my first try, did it pretty quick but will be doing some more soon.

have you considered maybe using the quick selection tool instead of the lasso. may shave off a couple seconds in the work flow. adjusting the opacity of the layers temporarily to get them lined up and then adjusting it back to 100% or maybe even having the back images show a gradual decline in opacity and fill from the front image to simulate motion.

I think the one with the multiple swimmers is really busy and the ones with one or two subjects look much better and less distracting.