BEFORE...

AFTER!!!

FINAL PRODUCT!

Here is the end result after all of my tweaking and testing.

 I have added some techniques by using the "burn tool"

to help soften the edges of Grace overlying the blue streaked

backdrop.  This allowed me to smooth 

everything out and diminished the "superimposed" look.  

I also added an accent spotlight through the filter option, to give 

a pop of light around her middle torso.  

Lastly, I merged all of the layers together

and flattened out her image to give it a concrete feel.

The overall look that I've created is exactly what I had desired!

Now that I know what I am doing, this proof of concept will

allow me to continue working on the other 2 photos of Ava & Will, 

of which I had originally hoped to do also.

However, by singling this project down to ONE amazing

photo, it has allowed me to experiment more with the different

tools in PhotoShop.  The end result actually turned out 

much more precise and detailed than what I had hoped for.

Choosing the right backdrop:

Here is the final background image that I've chosen to

incorporate into my photo.  I really like the subtlety of knowing that

she's running on the grounded track with the blue in the background 

as a strong, bold blur.  

FINAL PRODUCT OF GRACE IN MOTION...

So here it is... My final creation of Grace blurred into her running format

while still remaining true to the original photo by keeping it as the main 

layer on the top.  All of the other layers are softened by lowering the opacity 

and by using the radial blur technique.  I've also added a second "ghost-like" image

of herself running slightly behind her.  The final radial movement of her left arm

has been added to this image and is also an important extension to this photo.

YAYYYY!  I am beyond THRILLED with what I've created.

Now, onto to choosing my final track backdrop to keep her from

floating in white space.     ;)

Background update for my final exam project:

The photo above consists of a track athlete from UW Madison.  This

is one of the track backgrounds that I am considering using

on my final photo.

**Here is another backdrop that is blurred and I am especially drawn to.

I think that this might add to my composition nicely, with Grace remaining

as the main emphasis for the final look.  

Lastly, here is one more option using a nighttime or darker backdrop.

It might look ok with the contrast difference but I'm not 100%

sold on this yet.  I'll have to play around to see which one I prefer.

Here is the final addition of Grace's left arm with a lowered

opacity level and with a blurred effect.  Now I just need to attach this

to her final photo with the blurred right leg and then add a background.

Almost there...

Progress made today...

Today, I was able to focus on creating a pattern of arm series 

that will eventually coordinate with Grace's stride and the movement 

of her right leg.  Once again, I proportioned her shoulder socket

in the center and based her swing rotation off of that.

In the upper left, you can see the original arm that was cut away from her

 torso - using the polygonal lasso tool.  The middle arm was warped and stretched

 to elongate her swing in the radial direction from her shoulder within the

 boundaries of the red circle.  Finally, the far right hand is separated to allow me to 

conform her motility.  One more arm sequence to add.  So far, so good..   : )

Another update on my project...

Here is a look at how I was able to centrally use the axis from Grace's right 

hip and extend her leg in a true sense of her running form.

I started by centering her body in a divided circle to establish the movement

of leg rotations based off of her right hip bone.   

 Then, I lowered the opacity levels in each separate step of her leg around 10%

to portray the fading of each position.   Finally,

I added a subtle blur effect to create the sense of actually being in movement.  

After deleting my practice centering circle, I am now left with the finished

product of Grace's legs running.  I've reached my desired effect by having the 

top/original photo highlighted on the top and fading away with each step.

Next up...  her left arm.