There are a lot of common features that interrelate the similarities between photography and photorealistic 3D rendering. One is tied to the other in terms of principles and technicalities. Both are technically related to the use of a camera. This will involve understanding the properties of space and the camera lens. Thus, the two important things to take into consideration when merging a 3D object with a still photographic image, vice versa, are lighting and perspective. One is prompted to conduct an experiment on the merging of both photography and photorealistic 3D rendering, to create a harmony between the two elements. Based on recent analysis, the quantitative approach for this research is conducted by comparing works produced by final year students from 1997 to 2003. The findings indicate the obvious difference in the understanding of basic design fundamentals accustomed in photography. The second phase of the research is targeted towards the students' maturity in understanding the content of photorealistic 3D in terms of model properties, textures, lighting and rendering.