To start the selfie off, you need to pick a political figure.

Using google images, try and find a picture of the person where you can imagine their arm stretched outward.

I grabbed this one of Abraham Lincoln.

Next you want to open the photo with a photo editing software.

I use pixlr.com because it is free.

To remove whatever background there is, you need to use the lasso tool.  Before doing this make sure that the layer (right middle box in pixlr) is unchecked so you can actually erase down to no background.  This lets you choose what you isolate.  Once you have selected the background, you need to use the eraser to get rid of all that garbage behind the figure you want. Tip: select small areas so that if you mess up, you do not have to start all the way at the beginning.

Once you have your figure isolated, uncheck the layer.  You should just have the checkered background (if you save at this point the background will look white).

Now go grab the scene you want.  Use whatever image you want.

Download that image.

I got a cool outdoor type picture.  Abraham Lincoln was an “outdoorsman”.  Or so they say…

In pixlr go to Layer->Open Image As Layer.  Select your background image.

Now you probably want to change the image a bit.  With the correct layer selected in the middle right box, use the adjustment and filter settings to get it just right.

I used Adjustment->Desaturate.  This got rid of all of the color.

Next you need to resize things.

Make sure both layers are checked.  Click on the layer you need to adjust.  Use the Edit->Free Transform tool (or CTRL + T) to use a dragging type of readjustment.  You can also use this to position top image (the figure).

If you cannot get the figure on top, you need to just reorder the layers in that same middle left box.

Now, go to Layer->Merge Down.  This makes it into one Layer.

Last, use the Blur tool to go around the figure lightly.  This gets rid of hard lines and pixels.  I only click, I don’t drag the blur tool.  It just softens the edges.

Now you have your final selfie!  Upload it to flickr, and tag it appropriately.