Can someone help me black out the background?

[Tyguy35]

I am using Aperture 3 to edit photos but for some reason I can't find a lasso tool and I would like to black out the background in this photo. When I do ti because I can get clean edges it looks really fake and awkward.

 

[xj0hnx]

View attachment 68297

Still have the .psd file, so if you want to get rid of the highlights across the top let me know.

Ok, took out the highlights across the top, I think it looks a lot better ...

 

[Gavjenks]

It's almost impossible to do this really convincingly in general in software, because the edges are blurred together, not a crisp edge.

The best way is with a very strong flash lighting, such that the ambient light is insignificant by comparison, and the foreground is the only thing that's exposed at all, in-camera.

 

[Tyguy35]

Wow that looks great I love it. What program are you using?

 

[Tyguy35]

It's almost impossible to do this really convincingly in general in software, because the edges are blurred together, not a crisp edge.

The best way is with a very strong flash lighting, such that the ambient light is insignificant by comparison, and the foreground is the only thing that's exposed at all, in-camera.

the only issue I was having with my flash was that there was glass infront of me. I do need a better flash though.

 

[xj0hnx]

Wow that looks great I love it. What program are you using?

Photoshop. Duplicate the layer, create an Exposure adjustment layer and mask off the snake, 0% hardness, and 25% opacity and just brush it in till it looks right.