I hate Pictures Of Me!

[lissykeeper]

Okay, let me preface this by saying I hate pics of myself, but i was the only model I had. I was playing around with lighting, which led to playing around with photoshop since the lighting didn't work the way I wanted. I'm still not happy with the results. Any suggestions? Did I over do it on the levels? or maybe its too much blur? Or is it just the model that I am objecting to?

Modifications made:
Levels to lighten
Duplicate Layer (overlay)
High Pass at 9.2
Cntrl I to invert
Gaussian Blur @1.7
Layer Mask on Duplicate Layer to Paint Over Eyes and Eye browns to remove blur.
Cropping

Original


Edited

[Dotita]

Me too!!!!! well, I mean that I hate pictures of me, not you of course hehehehehe....

And you did a very good job with yours. I like the brightness, although I would have darken a little bit the chair. I usually work on those areas I don´t like, try to "lose" some skin and some times put my self some earings, when I forget. And for retouches, the "band-aid" tool is just great. (photoshop)

I´m just saying it in case you wanted. I ALWAYS retouch pictures of myself. I have bad skin.. heheheheh... but I also have Photoshop.

[Mr.Intensity]

Your fine. Flaws are what's lovable, and they serve to bind us with other naturally beautiful people-'90210' is by no means the norm.
However, I don't like my face in photos either but after a dozen or so shots I find one or two that could be doctored a bit...wish I was I was good with GIMP tho. help me if you can.

[Diana1979]

lissykeeper,
I think if you had a soft light to illuminate the other side of your face, it would help. what light did you use?

[Diana1979]

lissykeeper,
Also, a softer light for the main light would help to settle down the harsh shadows.

[Mr.Intensity]

Originally Posted by Diana1979

I think if you had a soft light to illuminate the other side of your face, it would help. what light did you use?

I sat the camera on an end table, under a window, I timed the shot, and I believe the flash was set to "Auto" this is a Nikon P50 P&S. ~Don't like it

[Mr.Intensity]

Originally Posted by Diana1979

Also, a softer light for the main light would help to settle down the harsh shadows.

humm...I did just get some "Day" lights. Now I see, I can get rid of that flash all together- and at the same time, kind of "Shed a little shade on the subject" quality lighting will be a creative home made issue. I got some pie tins and stuff
Thanx for taking the time~James

[braezen]

Don't know what this means.
I thought the first was the edited version and only wished you had not darkened the hair so much. A bit too much contrast in there. The second one I find the face too bright and not real. The chair blurs also. Somewhere in between?
Also, I want to see less more of the arm as for crop...
I am no expert on lighting either. I only use natural light and maybe a fill flash.

You may see flaws and I see the tension of being in front of the lens. I stopped shooting myself so I am a hypocrite. But, you look better than you think you do. I hope I do too.

We should all take a photo of ourselves in maybe a flattering way, but no touch ups!!!

[lissykeeper]

I want to thank eveyone for their comments. I'm sorry I haven't gotten back to answer these questions sooner. When I get on here, I want to see everything!

Dotita, How do you lose skin? I'm assuming your talking about photoshop. I would love to learn that trick? LOL

Mr. Intensity, Thanks for the post. I enjoyed seeing your pictures also.

Diana 1979, The lighting i was using was not intended for photography. It looked softer until I uploaded the pictures. I did try some later with a soft light on that one side like you suggested. ONly using a different model. They turned out better, but i'm still working on the lighting issues as i don't really feel comfortable shelling out big bucks for lighting just yet.

Brazen, Thanks for the critque and the advice about the crop. I hadn't noticed that until you pointed it out. I'm not sure, however that I can ever take photos of myself in a flattering way!

[coplan]

I would mess around with your curves slightly and possibly apply some sort of warming filter. Colors are a little too cool for a portrait of this nature.