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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> Self Portraits (ugh!)
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Showing posts 1 - 13 of 13, (reverse)
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05/16/2004 01:44:37 AM · #1
OK, I've never been one who likes to have my picture taken, much less to take one of myself. But after a lengthy discussion with my husband, we decided I should practice on myself...what better way to experiment with my lil' camera, some lights, and the fact that at least two of my three kids are in bed. So I've been working on it. I don't particularly care for most of them, but these are the three that turned out the best. Any tips for beginning portraiture, even if your subject is yourself?

05/16/2004 02:25:34 AM · #2
Smile! You're on candid camera! I love the clarity and lighting of these. But you do look rather sad . . . Having a hard day?
05/16/2004 02:30:06 AM · #3
Originally posted by dsidwell:

Smile! You're on candid camera! I love the clarity and lighting of these. But you do look rather sad . . . Having a hard day?


Oh, just the usual day in the old Black household...Like I said, I don't enjoy having my picture taken. :o)
05/16/2004 02:32:21 AM · #4
Here's a suggestion: I prefer the first one, simply because I'm not looking up into your nose as much, so a higher point of view might be helpful. You've got great looking skin, by the way.
05/16/2004 02:34:41 AM · #5
If I could read your thoughts from these shots;
1 "Did you say something?"
2 "Oh, that's what I thought you said"
3 "It doesn't matter anyway."

But color and lighting are great.
05/16/2004 02:47:22 AM · #6
I wish I had a tripod in which I could do self portraits lol
05/16/2004 02:49:31 AM · #7
Self portraits are a real challenge but you've got a great start! I like - in this order 3 - 1 - 2. The reason I like 3 the best is that it seems so "detached." The model looks like she's dreaming in a world all her own, ambivalent to the camera. She's thinking in a "secret plece" and we will never know. Lighting is superb on all three.
05/16/2004 02:50:38 AM · #8
Originally posted by laurielblack:

Any tips for beginning portraiture, even if your subject is yourself?


Some links to get you started:
//super.nova.org/PhotoClass/
//jzportraits.home.att.net/

:)atwl
05/16/2004 02:59:26 AM · #9
I agree with most of the comments. Lighting and skin tone is nice. Try a different camera angle to not shoot up the nose. A Moderate telephoto lens is better for portraits, i.e. 105 or 135. You'll get a better perspective with less distortion using these focal lenghts. What type of lights and diffusion did you use? A round catch light like yours is prefered over a square one. A good rule of thumb is to try and focus on the eye. The lips in photo 1 and 2 are crisp while the eye is slightly soft (but thats just being nit-picky). Like all "rules" of photography these are just guidelines. Over all not bad for first portraits, especially self portraits.
05/16/2004 07:03:32 AM · #10
Hard to say with such a pretty subject. :) Make someone ugly look good, then you're good.
05/16/2004 08:12:33 AM · #11
I like all of them - mostly due to the nice subject and the clarity. You don't necessarily need to smile but a face that is not sad would be good.

Number 3 is my favorite - particularly due the way your eyes are showing - open and bright.
05/16/2004 08:38:48 AM · #12
Originally posted by photoqwest:

A Moderate telephoto lens is better for portraits, i.e. 105 or 135. You'll get a better perspective with less distortion using these focal lenghts. What type of lights and diffusion did you use?


I wish I could use a telephoto lens...my camera doesn't zoom. Well, it has a 1x digital zoom, but that's all. I'm hoping maybe Santa will bring me another camera (hehehe). I used a halogen desk lamp and a clamp-on work light I found in the garage with a regular 75 watt bulb. So I obviously don't have "real" equipment, but I am not above making "do" with what I have! :o)

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to try to reshoot some today. Thanks!
05/16/2004 11:35:40 AM · #13
Nice pics and I agree mostly with what's been said already, but to add something new, I think that you need a little bit of color balancing. The pix look a bit too orangey to me so try adding in some of the cooler colors and see if the results look more natural.
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