Self Portrait

[akshatrathi294]

Anything good about this pic? Anything that could be done to make it look good?

[clockdoc]

Hi. Thanks for posting your self-portrait. If you look at lots of self-portraits on the web they fall into two major categories--those showing the camera with the subject and those that just show the subject. Since you used a mirror to shoot this, your facial features may not look exactly the same to those who know you since facial features are not symmetrical. However this is how you see yourself in the mirror so it will look correct to your eye.
Compositionally, the heavy mirror frame competes with you as the subject and may be better cropped out. Exposure-wise it is a little underexposed witht he camera sensor being influenced by the lighter wall behind you.
There is a hint that you could use the quality of available light to better advantage. Before reshooting, study how that bit of light falls on your face and provides the best illumination. Then place the camera in a position so as to not block that light.
As an additional challenge, use the light source above but shoot the sef-portrait holding the camera at arm's length and 'guessing' as to composition. Use the self-timer so that the camera isn't unnecessarily moved during the exposure. Hope this helps. Post any future shots for us to see.

[KagoGrl]

Hi!

I'll start by saying it's quite a good SP - they're so tricky to take! I'm fighting with my own right now - I can never get the focus that I want or composition that I want.

I'd have to agree that the shot is slightly under exposed but a few more test rounds with different settings could help that. As would clockdoc's suggestion of paying close attention to the light around you and how it's affecting the shot.

I also feel the big frame is a little distracting. Well, not so much the frame itself but the empty space in the upper right corner. Perhaps if you move in a little closer, or choose a different angle - use the mirror frame as a frame for your portrait.

A great start though! I look forward to the follow up shots.

[akshatrathi294]

Lots of valid points....I will consider them next time I shoot...

Well this is another one that I took at the same time as before..
Would go well in the "Breaking the Rules" assignment...with the grains and the lighting...but it's a self-portrait after all...



Any better?

[KagoGrl]

I like the composition of this one better! The grains work well but personally it's not my favorite (that's just me though - I like clean shots). The only thing I find off-putting about this particular shot is how bright the background is. I wonder if some post-processing could tone that down a bit.

Nicely done!

[aadam_21]

I like the second shot much better. I find grain more tolerable in a black and white so it doesn't bother me here. Like KagoGrl, I think the background is a little bright, but overall nice job. I know how hard self portraits can be. I've been trying to get just one for a while now and I can't seem to nail it.