1. A method for extracting an alpha matte from images of a scene illuminated by unpolarized light, comprising the steps of: acquiring a first pair of images of a scene with a foreground object placed in front of a background producing polarized light, a first image of the first pair of images measuring vertically polarized light of the scene, and a second image of the first pair of images measuring horizontally polarized light of the scene; and acquiring a second pair of images of the background producing the polarized light, a first image of the second pair of images measuring vertically polarized light, and a second image of the second pair of images measuring horizontally polarized light; and combining the first and second pairs of images to generate an alpha matte and an alpha multiplied foreground.