Self Portrait

[First Light]

So this is my FIRST portrait shot, and the most cooperative model I could find was ... ME! LOL!

I know it needs a LOT of work. Portraiture is definitely an area that I don't know much about. Please critique lighting (I had one light source directed at a reflector in front of the "model", and the in-camera flash), composition, and PP. Thank you!



EXIF:
Canon EOS rebel T3
lens EF-S 18-55
focal length 39mm
ISO 800
f/5.0
flash on/fired (in-camera)
exposure 0.017s (1/60)

Edited in LR3 to adjust WB & color levels, crop, & sharpen.

[Michael_nine22.com]

- I would move away from the wall in order to get rid of the hard shadows behind you, at this point your hair turns into shadows..

- I would move you "down" a little in the frame, try to have the center of the eyes at 1/3 (rule of thirds)

[First Light]

Originally Posted by Michael_nine22.com

- I would move away from the wall in order to get rid of the hard shadows behind you, at this point your hair turns into shadows..

- I would move you "down" a little in the frame, try to have the center of the eyes at 1/3 (rule of thirds)

Well, until I try to shot again, I can't move me away from the wall, but here is a re-crop. Does it help the composition?

[Doug Sundseth]

Composition:

1) Framing a self portrait in camera is almost impossible, so you did the right thing to shoot this loosely. That said, I think you needed more space on camera left.

2) I'd recommend that you not shoot portraits with headboard rails growing out of your ear. (Unless it's some sort of bold and transgressive statement about ... nah. )

3) More generally, unless you're doing an environmental portrait (for which this shot doesn't have enough context, IMO), you normally want a simple background. The brown wall would work nicely, but only if there's nothing else in front of it.

Lighting:

1) On-camera flash is not flattering when used as a key light. (It can sometimes work as a fill light in a pinch.) It's very flat and harsh and the catch lights end up directly in the middle of the pupil. I'd recommend that you either use one or more off-camera flashes or that you do this with a longer exposure in continuous light.

2) Shadows reveal form. The most common portrait lighting key light is from about 30 - 60 degrees around from the camera position and a bit high. This gives flattering shape-defining shadows. Then you can add fill light from near the camera or on the opposite side of the subject to give a bit of detail and character to the shadowed side. Google "Rembrandt lighting" for a simple lighting scheme.

3) As noted, shadows on the background don't work well, so separating yourself from the background a bit more next time should help.

4) If you have the lights, consider adding a background light or hair light for separation of subject from background.

Posing:

This is the hardest part of self-portrait photography. The good news is that the subject has as much patience as the photographer. The bad news is that the photographer can't see the subject to make the adjustments and time the shot as she normally would.

Things that can help:

1) Give yourself something to focus on to one side of the camera. This will help give your eyes a more normal appearance.

2) Use a remote rather than a timer. You won't have to hold a smile for as long (which tends to get very strained) and you can take multiple shots without going back to the camera over and over again.

3) Speaking of which: take lots of shots. Bits are free; use as many as you need.

4) Consider putting a fairly large mirror behind the camera, so that you can see yourself and time your shot. This might be distracting (if so, get rid of it), or it might help.

HTH

[tingeliM]

I think that chair and the cut off shoulder are really distracting. I'd try again with a stool and you further away from the wall and with both shoulders showing. Or if that chair is something you really want in the shot (it seems like a pretty chair), maybe show it in a little more creative way (maybe google or use the Flickr's search for portraits with chairs in 'em). It seems so dominant visually, it can't be just "a stand-in" - it should get the best supporting actor's award. =)
Also the in-camera flash makes the lighting look a little "deer in the headlights"...Personally I like taking SPs in natural light or with any one light source coming from the side and without the in-camera flash.

[First Light]

Ahhh...Lots of feedback!! This is what I need. I have only my on-camera flash, so I am restricted to natural light, and whatever I can rig up right now. Good news is, there is lots of natural light in Oklahoma right now! It is just tough to get it where you have a good background sometimes.

As for the chair: that never occurred to me! A stool makes MUCH more sense. (I have no attachment to said chair, LOL!) Looking at it now, it looks so ridiculous!

Thank you for the suggestions about moving farther away from the background; I'm sure that will make a big difference as well.

Thanks for the feedback! You guys are great!