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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Self portrait
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 09/17/2002 08:32:39 PM · #1
One thing I struggle with since the beginning and which is by far most difficult type of photo for me is doing a self portrait. Now I have one which I consider "not too bad" and because here are so many good photographers around, I would like to ask what you think about this self portrait of me.

Please be honest. I can take it :-)

 09/17/2002 08:54:51 PM · #2
I think this is a nice shot, the lighting is interesting. The focus looks a little soft, but that could be from many things.
 09/17/2002 08:59:42 PM · #3
Beside that forced expression I dont see anything wrong with the picture. It has awesome symmetry and light. I would try more natural looks whick is kind of hard when you are the photographer and the subject. Try looking at a drawing or something.

Originally posted by stephan:
One thing I struggle with since the beginning and which is by far most difficult type of photo for me is doing a self portrait. Now I have one which I consider "not too bad" and because here are so many good photographers around, I would like to ask what you think about this self portrait of me.

Please be honest. I can take it :-)



 09/17/2002 09:01:12 PM · #4
Great use of neg space. ;) uh- you look angry?
 09/17/2002 09:18:53 PM · #5
Hmm, no I am not angry at this. Actually this is my natural look. I didn't say that I'm a particular photogenic person ;-). One of the reasons why I find it's so hard... Anyway, thanks so far for the input. I'll work on the focus and my expression :-)
 09/17/2002 09:20:34 PM · #6
I like it Stephan, but as others have said you look stern. Is that what you were after? The lighting is good...keep shooting!!!

 09/17/2002 09:25:50 PM · #7
stephan,

I like the high-contrast look, but would prefer it to be litte less severe; not blowing out the highlights on your cheek, and keeping a hint of detail on the darker side.

For an interesting site of self-portraiture particularly suitable for the non-photogenic (like me) check out The Mirror Project.

--Paul
 09/17/2002 10:06:36 PM · #8
Originally posted by aelith:
Great use of neg space. ;) uh- you look angry?

That was also my first impression... Not sure why, but you looked angry... After looking awhile I altered that to "intense"... I don't know if it's the lighting that gave this impression or something else.

That aside i think it's a very well shot picture. I like the side lighting.
 09/17/2002 10:27:02 PM · #9
Stephen, I love the self portrait. When I look at your eyes you seem mad, but when I look at your mouth it seems you have a bit of a grin. Like you are planning something devious. You look like a fun person to hang with. I like the look myself.
 09/17/2002 10:28:08 PM · #10
Most people say I look angry most of the time to. Not all of us can walk around with idiotic smiles all day. :(
 09/17/2002 10:30:41 PM · #11
Originally posted by stephan:
One thing I struggle with since the beginning and which is by far most difficult type of photo for me is doing a self portrait. Now I have one which I consider "not too bad" and because here are so many good photographers around, I would like to ask what you think about this self portrait of me.

Please be honest. I can take it :-)



Snap!
09/17/2002 11:05:56 PM · #12
As a portrait photographer, one of the first things I learned was try not to shoot the subject at a direct angle. By turning your face slightly to one side you get more Depth. Also, if you have light on one side of your face then that light should be reflected in your eye. I don't know if this will help you, but maybe it does! :)
 09/17/2002 11:18:11 PM · #13
I'm not sure about the "fuzzy" part mentioned above or perhaps it's cause I'm viewing on an LCD but it's so sharp I can almost count the pores. . . intense is an understatement.

Why not try a shot that doesn't propagate the angry/intense impression?

 09/17/2002 11:43:15 PM · #14
What was the f# on this shot? It's often preferable to use a lower # for portraits so that you blur the bg, but in this situation you wouldn't have to worry about that. It might help to have more DOF b/c to me it looks like the very front plane is in sharper focus than further back. It also seems like you might want the camera up a little higher because you almost seem to be looking down a tad. I always remember portrait photographers pushing my chin up on school pic day so ...
I also think you could improve on the lighting a bit to show more of the eye.
This is a great attempt though. I personally don't have anything to say about the expression since I don't know you and think you should just look natural.
 09/18/2002 07:06:36 AM · #15
Whoa, thanks for your comments :-)

I may look stern, but that's a bit to the direction how I wanted it. I wanted a bit darker mood and not one where I laugh or grin or generally look funny.

GeneralE: Thanks for the link. This looks like a great site. Very interesting and a good possibility for studying other self portraits. I like how most of them do not hide the camera but intentionally include it. However, in a masochistic way of photography I wanted a direct and "one-to-one" portrait. I agree about the contrast it could be a bit less severe and the light could be more evenly distributed.

Gordon: Thanks for sharing your experience! I'll see if it looks better with a tone and not 100% grayscale.

smshats: I faced the camera directly because them my nose doesn't look that big. Really.

indigo: I don't remember he f-stop and I can't look for the original, because I'm currently at work. But I think it was a very low f-stop, because a part of the skin is very sharp (almost too sharp) but for example my ear it blurred. I'll see if more DOF improves it.

I agree about the eye. All good portraits try to put a "spark" into the eyes by reflecting the light in the eye. My eyes are in shadows which probably is one reason for the angry/stern look. I'll see how it look with the "sparks".

Thanks again for your feedback. Very much appreciated.



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