Self-Portrait: the practice, exhibition, vulnerability, and exploration

[nevermore]

I believe this is the first post for this on FoP, but if anyone else should have ownership, please advise.

To me, the self-portrait is about as enjoyable as rendering your own homemade tattoo. Nevertheless, I think those who endeavor to shoot portraits of others, owe it to themselves to look inward from time to time.

This shoot from a year ago was unplanned and obviously ended with whimsical misadventure.

 

[hammer]

Good to see you, (nevermore) Pine Bomb. I shall participate in your bravery !

 

[nevermore]

Good to see you, (nevermore) Pine Bomb. I shall participate in your bravery !

View attachment 2284

A percussionist. Excellent.

 

[Chris001]

playing around with lighting. I can't play guitar worth a hoot. but I like how it came out
selfie by Chris B, on Flickr

 

[West Coast Birder]

This is a great thread. I lack the self confidence to post a self-portrait but I like what I see so far. How do you guys ensure getting good focus?

 

[nevermore]

This is a great thread. I lack the self confidence to post a self-portrait but I like what I see so far. How do you guys ensure getting good focus?

My first self-portraits were pre-focused with spotty results. With wi-fi you can get far more precise. If you pay close attention to the first image in my opening post you can see the cell phone at the bottom mirroring me.

 

[ncsa]

Self by Neil, on Flickr

 

[Chris001]

This is a great thread. I lack the self confidence to post a self-portrait but I like what I see so far. How do you guys ensure getting good focus?

people and eye autofocus turned on. and F8. and lots of playing around.

 

[nevermore]

people and eye autofocus turned on. and F8. and lots of playing around.

Au contraire, all the modern AF gizmos might help, but you don't need them. This was with the Canon 5d3 and the Sigma Art 50 at f/2.5, pre-focused with the timer. My introductory post was shot at f/1.4 with my Fuji and the 50mm f/1.0.

Fine. I'll do a self portrait #002. by matt meador, on Flickr

 

[KjB_imaging]

So, a few years ago I decided for whatever reason to do a self portrait session but also stepping out of character a bit. Spent a year growing my hair to shoulder length. My daughter is a cosmetologist so I got her to color my hair black, paint my nails black, add black eye makeup and such. I'm not a portrait photographer at all so I set up a single light and did a lot of test shots of stuff. This is a sample from that shoot.

 

[Chris001]

how about an old school selfie... lol
I used a couple of branches to balance the AE1P. I pre focused on the vertical branch near the end of my rifle. this was 1986, southern Germany when I was in the Army.
In the Field by Chris B, on Flickr

 

[DanielScott]

I tend to do a self portrait every few years, but for the most part I don't enjoy being in front of the camera. I get much more satisfaction from photographing others.

Shot using an Original Canon 5D with a Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens, set to f/4.5, 1/200th sec, ISO 1000. Lit using available light. I didn't have a tripod, so I propped my camera up on my skateboard, which was on my camera bag, and used the ten second timer.

 

[Detroitable]

The less light on me the better I look

 

[Skygod44]

This is a great thread. I lack the self confidence to post a self-portrait but I like what I see so far.

I'm with you on this...

Been making videos for my children for several years now, including me talking to camera. And it's been (still is) an utter nightmare to be in front of the lens.

Going to 'watch' this thread for a bit....

 

[nevermore]

To me, the self-portrait is about as enjoyable as rendering your own homemade tattoo.

And it's been (still is) an utter nightmare to be in front of the lens.

The less light on me the better I look

for the most part I don't enjoy being in front of the camera

I lack the self confidence to post a self-portrait but I like what I see so far.

This sounds like a consensus. Let's liberally construe the term self-portrait. Experimental or less conventional approaches are welcome.

Things like shadows, silhouettes, reflections, etc. might encourage some of the more camera-shy among us.

But I think a tight close-up of just a body part (e.g., a hand) may be a bit too far removed, because I think in portraits we strive to capture something personal about the subject, such as an aspect of the personality or even just a glimpse of a fleeting moment.

I also think it is acceptable to have an assistant trigger the shutter release, so long as the poster did everything else in the way of framing, camera settings, posing, and cuing the shot.

 

[Skygod44]

This sounds like a consensus. Let's liberally construe the term self-portrait. Experimental or less conventional approaches are welcome.

Perhaps 5 years ago, my niece introduced me to this silly smartphone app, which could massively distort your face, or add props to the image.

For you handsome hunks, self-portraits must be a piece of cake.
But I've never liked my own image.
I'll get there eventually, but for now, it's baby-steps.
OK?

 

[nevermore]

Perhaps 5 years ago, my niece introduced me to this silly smartphone app, which could massively distort your face, or add props to the image.

For you handsome hunks, self-portraits must be a piece of cake.
But I've never liked my own image.
I'll get there eventually, but for now, it's baby-steps.
OK?
View attachment 18946View attachment 18947

Nice mustache

 

[Skygod44]

Nice mustache

Thanks.
You can have one EXACTLY like it
And so can all the ladies on FoP.

 

[Ltdave]

i look funny when i try to smile so i typically dont. unless im naturally laughing at something.

i think i look like Gene Hackman from Enemy of the State in this one

 

[96whiteknight]

Untitled by Michael Bartley, on Flickr