My first, "looking through camera" photo...

[hmcgrael]

What do you think?..I am my worst critic..and am hardly ever satisfied with any photos I take of myself..Yet, I do like this one a lot more than the others...Is the focus, lighting and comp. pleasing?..I was trying for something a little different ..I am just wondering if I accomplished that..or is it just another boring self portrait?..Thanks for all honest c&c's!

Sony DSC-H2
f/2.8
exp. time 1/13 sec.
exp.bias +1
ISO-320
6mm
no flash

[zona5101]

I like it. I might flip it so the letters read correctly. I like that you burned down the bottom corner to bring the eye up in the frame but the thumb is demanding attention being big and bright in the center of the image.

[MrJones]

I love it.
the only thing I could find is that the eyes are not as sharp as I wanted them to be but that can be just an equipment issue.
nice job and a beautiful face.

[BigFuzzy]

That's the beauty of photography, all the diff opinions.

I'm sorry, but to be perfectly honest, it goes against what you say you're trying to do. What I mean is you say you want to be different, but then every photographer (and their mother and their dog) has a photo almost exactly like this. I've gone out of my way to never have this photo exactly because I want to be different (hence my profile photo! )

The vignetting on the bottom is a bit strong for me. I love vignetting, and use it a lot and hope you do to, but when the post-processing effect becomes a subject in and of itself, then it's probably a bit overdone. Also, your hand plays a prominent role in the image. I would have gotten focus and zoom right, then minimized my hand by moving it more to the side to show more of your face.

I also agree with MrJones.. it's crucial that in an image like this you need to nail the focus on the eyes.. or eye in this case!

All in all not a bad photo, but not incredibly different from anything else either, and I think that's a main point you were asking about. I hope I'm coming across as constructive and not just negative!?

[LeeR]

I don't think your shot is so bad. We want to put ourselves and our camera in the same image, shooting into a mirror is as good a way to do that as any. Some things are just classics, like the little black dress, if it works use it; no need to reinvent the wheel. I agree that it needs to be technically perfect; it doesn't speak well of us as photographers if our own self portrait isn't sharp and well composed.

Perhaps the best of these self portraits was the one Andreas Feininger did nearly sixty years ago. I think we are all aspiring to get one as good as this:



One of my favorite shots of myself was one taken by a fellow photographer. Sometimes I think it takes another photographer to understand what we are trying to accomplish.

[hmcgrael]

Thank you all so much for the helpful comments!

Zona, I wasn't worried much about the letters..is that wrong?..lol..and ty!

Mr. Jones..Thank you ..I will have to try and play up the eye..in pp..the focus was a bit off..during the shot...grr..I have a love/hate relationship with my camera..lol

Big Fuzzy, Now, I wanna cry, you callin' me ugly??...Juuusst kidding!..You weren't being negative..very helpful is what you are! I wondered about the vignette..as much as I try pulling it back on my photos it always gets a bit too strong..I thought I did better on this one..but maybe it does need to be pulled back a bit more..I am just worried about bringing even more attention to my giant thumb..lol

LeeR, Yes, I agree..classic is the way to go..I guess when I said I wanted to be different...I mean..like the photo you shared...Different, classic, yet meaningful..and it speaks to you..I want my photo to portray some kind of passion..if that makes any sense..lol

I am also including another I did during that set.without the vignette and a bit more focus on the eye...is it better?..worse?..just curious as to how it compares to the one I like better...I am so new..so comparing helps me bunches! Thanks all!

[BigFuzzy]

Originally Posted by hmcgrael

I am also including another I did during that set.without the vignette and a bit more focus on the eye...is it better?..worse?..just curious as to how it compares to the one I like better...I am so new..so comparing helps me bunches! Thanks all!

Glad you took it as it was meant.

Also remember, some think that simply re-doing a classic isn't necessarily being classic yourself. Do your own thing. Create your own 'classic' don't copy. (not saying you are, as this shot doesn't really fit 'copying' as everyone does it hehe)

As for the second one. I like it better. Most comments still apply minus the vignetting. And they eye sharpening is over done.. gotta get that right in-camera, no amount of post-processing will fix it. Still, it is better (in my individually insignificant opinion )!

[hmcgrael]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

Glad you took it as it was meant.

Also remember, some think that simply re-doing a classic isn't necessarily being classic yourself. Do your own thing. Create your own 'classic' don't copy. (not saying you are, as this shot doesn't really fit 'copying' as everyone does it hehe)

As for the second one. I like it better. Most comments still apply minus the vignetting. And they eye sharpening is over done.. gotta get that right in-camera, no amount of post-processing will fix it. Still, it is better (in my individually insignificant opinion )!

Not insignificant whatsoever..That's why I am here
and thank you, I like the softness and overall feeling of the b&w slightly better..but, yes, that freaking eye..lol..I will have to "re-create" something a bit more focused next time..lol

Also, including ONE last shot...promise..I had to!!..I like it better than the other 2!..I came across this one a bit ago and took in some of the advice given..what do ya think?...tried focusing more on the eye..The cropping is strange, but I kinda like it...lost the vignette for this one also, and tried..key word "tried"..for a vintage type look and feel to it..I know, digital is far from vintage, but it's the modern twist to it..Again, thank for all the comments and tips..I hope I am doing this right!

[hmcgrael]

Also, attempted to fix the eye on the second photo!