Chapter6.The Mask: selection techniques

Chapter 6. The Mask: selection techniques

Photo by Scott Kelby

Exposure: 1/800

Focal Length: 190mm

Aperture Value: /4.8

One of the problems with people is you can't always get them to stand in front of a white background so you can easily select them and place them on a different background in Elements 4.0. It's just not fair. If I were elected president, one of my first priorities would be to sign an executive order requiring all registered voters to carry with them a white, seamless roll at all times. Can you imagine how much easier life would be? For example, let's say you're a sports photographer and you're shooting an NFL Monday Night Football game with one of those Canon telephoto lenses that are longer than the underground tube for a particle accelerator; and just as the quarterback steps into the pocket to complete a pass, a fullback comes up from behind, quickly unfurls a white, seamless backdrop, and lets you take the shot. Do you know how fast you'd get a job at Sports Illustrated? Do you know how long I've waited to use "unfurl" in a sentence and actually use it in the proper context? Well, let's just say at least since I was 12 (three long years ago). In this chapter, you'll learn how to treat everyone, every object, every thing, as though it were shot on a white, seamless background.