decisionsby
Len ScapComment by Artyste: Greetings from the Critique Club. My critiques are generally geared towards trying to help you improve your score within DPC, and not on any true "artistic" merit of the photograph itself, unless it relates to DPC voters and scoring. Please keep that in mind as you read this.
Initial Thoughts
Over-exposed, a bit crowded, and looks more like a portrait than a self-portrait, because of the pose.
Composition/Content
From my experience, a good self-portrait is one that engages the viewer and tells them a little about yourself. While I understand that what you are trying to say here is, "I'm a photographer", what it says to me is, "I shot this other guy that is a photographer". This is because the subject is disengaged from the viewer, and the camera, and is too busy with the camera he is holding, giving the impression that he was caught in a candid moment, and not capturing himself. Also, standing so close to the tree takes *more* emphasis off yourself, and puts it on the environment, making it more a candid snapshot than a concious effort at a portrait, to my mind.
Background
You had a wonderful, wonderful background to really use to your advantage here, but it is mostly overshadowed by the tree you stood into, and the harsher lighting of the day. I know that while out in the wilderness, you can't always choose your lighting, but your exposure is definitely too bright here, and a faster shutter speed would have been recommended.
Camera Work/Technical
Which brings us here. In bright days, you really want to meter for your background first and foremost, espeically if you have a good reflector or flash to fill with. A shutter speed of 1/500 - 1/1500 (and probably more on the higher end), would have eliminated the harsh lighting on the snow and on your features, and you could have worked on the shadows in post, or with the fill flash at that point. As for using the tree to help show your DOF, I don't believe that it was required. You, yourself would have provided that well enough.
Digital Processing
There is still far to much over-exposure here, but not really any blown highlights. (well, except maybe in the snow peaks). A little more work with levels would have helped this dramatically, pulling down the harsh lighting. Using levels on an adjustment layer would have also let you put the shadow detail back in using a low opacity brush. I'd also suggest learning the "Color Balance" adjustment as well, as your skin tones retain a little too much yellow/red, especially in the highlights.
There is also a distinct lack of sharpening, which is easily fixed using USM. I'd start with a 50%, 0.3 radius, 0 threshold, and then tweak from there. (some people like to go 150, 1.0, 3). Just experiment with it so that you lose that general overall softness that I see here.
Fits the Challenge
This is one that is a little iffy. It fits the challenge, of course, since it's you (or so I'll give the benefit of doubt), but the overall *feeling* doesn't say, "this is me". A little more interaction with the camera that took the shot, or a little stronger emphasis on you yourself, would have helped this aspect greatly.
My Opinion of the Photo
As I've said, I don't really get a huge "self-portrait" feeling from this photo. It has or had much potential, but seems just a little too hurried in ways, and just a little too "non-self" in others. I want to really like it, but I think it could have been a lot better.
Good luck on future challenges.
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