Photoshop challenge

[atomic]

My skills in Photoshop are not very good when it comes to cutting out images and changing the background. I am wondering if anyone here can make the first picture look like the second picture.

Background information:

I bought my 20D on a Wednesday in the middle of last month. Six days later I bought the 70-200 L. This is my first DSLR. Two month before I bought the camera my friend since high school, Ben, showed me his new D80 Nikon. He let me play with it and I fell in love. Not with the Nikon, per sey, but with the whole DSLR concept. Man they sure focus fast and accurate. It was playing with his D80 that caused me to finally pull the trigger and upgrade. During the five days in between when I bought the camera and the lens the new issue of Popular Photography hit the stands. There on the cover was the camera I had just bought (well ok, it was the 30d, not th 20d) and the lens I was about to buy (well, I got the non-IS version). This completely blew my mind. But then when I realized that the other camera on the cover is the exact same camera and lens that inspired me to buy my camera I really flipped.

So Ben and I got together and took this photo. But I can't get it as close as some of you guys can. Thanks in advance for any help.

[Alter_ego]

Would have been easier to have used a blank canvas to start with. White sheet, yellow sheet etc. I'm sure someone here could do a good job. I could extract them, but I wouldn't be able to get the shadow detail right.

[johnw]

Working on it now, about 70% done with the masking...will try to have something by later tonight.

[jfrancho]

I couldn't muster the courage to try an extract like that. Yep, a sheet of white paper is usually easy to come by, and bounce a flash off a white ceiling, and viola!

[johnw]

still working on it...but a quick edit for you, some spots need cleaned up.

[johnw]

Not much better than before and I did it fairly quick, my head is pounding due to the storms we have coming in right now, so this is probably all I will do on this one, hope it's enough.

[atomic]

Wow that is beautiful John. The only thing different that I would like is for the lens caps under the Canon to disappear.

Yes you are right, I should have used a sheet and bounce flash. But I am not a studio photographer, I am a bird photographer, so I am just plain stupid as to what to do in a studio.

[jfrancho]

I'll admit, I had my doubts about getting anything decent from the source file, but John did a great job. The shadows are a nice touch, and help sell the illusion.

[Max@Home]

...my try, quick & dirty...

Max@Home

[johnw]

Final version for you....it could still be a lot better

[johnw]

Pen tool is the way to go for nice crisp, clean lines. Nicely done.

[atomic]

Wow, you guys are awesome. Could someone explain how they use the pen tool?

[Alter_ego]

Good Job JohnW, but just one little observation. The shadow detail around the Nikon should stop at the bottom of the body (right hand side) not go up the side. It gives the impression that the background goes up behind the cameras, whereas it should be flat. Thats why I said I would have trouble with the shadows. Its not easy .

[johnw]

Originally Posted by allcart

Good Job JohnW, but just one little observation. The shadow detail around the Nikon should stop at the bottom of the body (right hand side) not go up the side. It gives the impression that the background goes up behind the cameras, whereas it should be flat. Thats why I said I would have trouble with the shadows. Its not easy .

It is not that shadows are hard, it's you have to pay attention to every detail of the image, shadows highlights, everything.

Not my best work by a long shot. I also did not get the yellow highlights bright enough, so it matches the first image.

[Paul Shields]

Amazing work from everyone! Atomic - I'm sure you know already, but top tip for next time is to try and neutralise the background before attempting this again .

[macmaam]

I'm in.

[wupingtao]

My experiment

我的试验