Self Portrait

[michellepotter]

Canon Rebel XTi
18-55mm Kit Lens
Focal Length 34mm
Aperture f/5.0
Exposure 1/320s
ISO 400

This is the photo I posted in the Self Portrait thread, sans the post production work. I used a chair for a tripod, and took some "test" pictures of the rock and tree I sat in front of. Those came out perfectly sharp, but when I set the timer and got into the shot, I am somewhat out of focus. I used the basic "Sports" mode because I thought it would keep me in focus better. Suggestions? Any other suggestions? Heck, any suggestions on my hair??

Feel free to edit and repost in this thread.

[Murtasma]

Did someone else take this shot or did you set the timer on the camera? All your settings looked good for the image but, you see out of focus.

[Sime]

Hi Michelle!... Welcome to DPS...(again!)

You say you set focus using the tree and the rock, so because they're a touch behind you, it may have thrown focus off a little. Try pulling focus on the ground just a touch forward of the rock.. trial and error!..

And the hair, maybe a mohawk?!.. (was going to edit and repost, but you'd have slapped me one!)

Sime

[michellepotter]

Originally Posted by Sime™

Hi Michelle!... Welcome to DPS...(again!)

You say you set focus using the tree and the rock, so because they're a touch behind you, it may have thrown focus off a little. Try pulling focus on the ground just a touch forward of the rock.. trial and error!..

How would I do that, exactly? All I really did was set the camera on the chair facing where I would be, and hit the shutter.

Originally Posted by Sime™

And the hair, maybe a mohawk?!.. (was going to edit and repost, but you'd have slapped me one!)

Heh, if my husband can't talk me into a mohawk, I doubt you can.

[Saralonde]

Maybe try a AV mode and set a higher aperture number. You could also set something like a chair where you are going to sit, focus on that, then push it out of the way before you plop down.

Hair looks good to me .

[wijew]

I'd try to move the camera back abt 6 inches after i set it to focus on the tree.

Trial and error!

[michellepotter]

Hmm, all good suggestions! Thanks!

[wulf]

Was the camera left to autofocus as it wished? When you are doing something like this and won't be pressing the shutter directly, it is often better to manually focus (using something in the same place that you will be standing or sitting to check it is sharp) and then do the timer thing.

Back to critiquing the photo, I think it would have been better taken in portrait orientation (or cropping down from landscape if balancing the camera was difficult) - there is a lot of space on either side that doesn't seem to add much to the image. Also, it would have been good if you got your feet in to balance the space above your head.

Perhaps try again, to play with the focus settings, and leave a generous margin all the way round yourself - you can then play with different ways of cropping it back on your computer.

Wulf

[knickers71uk]

self portrait are very hard, If I set up the tripod for me I always put a chair or something where I am gonna sit and focus on the chair or item I have put there. Then remove the item once I have focussed, set the timer and voila.

As for your hair, lots of long layers and feathered around your face would be very flattering.....or a mohawk lol

[YSV]

well , the same happened to me. What i think is that you need to manual focus & place a dummy in front of the tree. then lock the focus , use the self timer & quickly run to the the dummy remove it & make yr pose.