Trying to Add Motion

[HeatherClark]

Hello, it's been a loong time since I posted, so I won't be surprised if I get flogged for the processing I've done.  I need help adding a golf ball and motion trail to this.  The motion blur that I'm trying is just not cutting it.  How would you like me to post?  I have a picture of a golf ball that I took that I'm trying to add.  Do you want them separately or do you want to see my pitiful attempt?  TIA!

[Damien Symonds]

Hi Heather, have you googled "ball flying towards camera" or something like that, to find some inspiration about how it should look?

[HeatherClark]

I've googled "sports composite ball flying" or variations on that, but I can't seem to find anything.  Maybe this can't be pulled off?  I mean, I understand it won't look realistic, but I feel like it can be done better.

[Damien Symonds]

Well, I found a few, and the ball is just blurry.  Which would be realistic, I guess.

Can you post the ball file separately, so I can have a play?

[HeatherClark]

Sure!  

[HeatherClark]

I found a different file which has a horizontal orientation which I think lends itself better to this idea.  But I'm just sure that if I post this some jackoff would comment, "That's no moon, it's a space station."

[Damien Symonds]

I belatedly realised that you had the ball coming from the wrong place.  He wouldn't tee off between his feet.

This is still pretty cheesy, but does some spin blur help?

[HeatherClark]

What do you think COULD make this work?  My earlier horizontal attempt I think felt a bit more realistic.  If I abandon the motion idea and just go with a ball near the lens, would the placement you have work best?  Or will this always look like somebody literally just put a ball there in photoshop?  I don't necessarily mind if it's obvious it's been photoshopped, but I don't want people to scoff, either.

[Damien Symonds]

If you don't use spin blur, you'll need to use regular blur.  It's simply not realistic to be sharp, you know?

[HeatherClark]

I brought the tree line up some, and still hung the ball toward the upper corner.  But I think adding the trees to separate the ball and the sky makes it feel less Golf-Ball-Death-Star.  I added a spin blur, too, per your suggestion.

[Damien Symonds]

Oh yeah!!