Can't focus Self-Portrait

[First Light]

I've made many attempts at self-portraits, and I'm getting better, but I am having quite some trouble with focusing. Here is my latest attempt:



And I need LOTS of help! Please advise on my focus issue, lighting, and any other glaring issues. Also, if anyone can tell me how to remove my foot from the picture in post either with Lightroom or Gimp, that would be wonderful. Here is the EXIF:


Camera Canon EOS REBEL T3
Exposure 3.2
Aperture f/4.5
Focal Length 24 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program Manual
Max Aperture Value 4.0
Subject Distance 0.93 m

[Rentham]

Exposure 3.2? As in 3.2 seconds of shutter? That would be your problem.

[dalmorloson]

It looks like you don't have a focussing issue, more like a lighting (or lack of) issue. Your exposure is 3.2 seconds. Its impossible to stay motionless for that long. If you look at your sweater at your arms, they are in focus. Its the shutter speed that is your undoing. You need enough light or a flash to get that shutter much faster.

[TheMoons678]

I wouldn't bother cloning out the foot with the focus off by so much. I can't give much advice about how to self focus, but I have used an infared remote that I can focus while I am posed, or use one of your kid's dolls placed at the distance where your face will be. Choose better (distant) backgrounds with more forgiving (smaller) apertures.

Ps do a YouTube search of "Gimp clone tool" to learn how to remove unwanted items.

[dmann]

When I had this issue I found that if you place an object where you are going to be sitting and focus the camera on that before you start the self timer, you should be good. The issue was that my camera didnt have anything to focus on, therefore focusing on nothing. Might want to try this.



I should have worded that different. The camera did have something to focus on but when I jumped into the frame I was out of focus because I was closer to the camera then the object or wall it was focused on. Hope this helps.

[sk66]

Focus is fine (pillow is sharp), you moved...
Practice holding your breath...and pretending to be a mannequin.

[dmann]

What focus method are you using? If you are using auto AF selection (Canon) that might be why the pillow is on focus and your not.

[TNH]

Well, it looks to me like everything is nice and sharp except you face, so that must mean that you moved your head! I know by experience, it's hard to sit still for self portraits. :P

As for the foot, Gimp has Clone Tool that would probably work to take that out.Here is a pic of my Gimp toolbox. I outlined the 'clone tool' in red, so you know what it looks like.


I also tried cloning out your foot with Gimp, to show you what it might look like when you're done. Definitely not the best cloning job in the world here, since I was in a hurry, but it's decent. Try it, and see if you like your result. It will be better than my example, most likely! I'm terrible at cloning. I need to practice using that PP skill more!


One other thing, next time I would try to get your elbows in the shot, instead of them being cut off. It KNOW how hard it is to get your whole body in a picture when you're doing it yourself! I'm known to cut off my head in self portraits all the time.

Another thing I notice is, it looks like both sides of the headboard on either side of your head are two different colors. Is it really that way, or did that happen somehow in PP/ Or is it just my eyes?
Overall, I really like the shot! Nice job!

[cyber3d]

I wonder if you are using auto focus? Be sure you are either using manual focus (put a pillow or some object exactly where your head is and focus on that) or if auto focus ensure you choose a single auto focus point aimed right at where your head will be in the photo.

I would imagine f5.6 would be better for this sort of shot.

One assumes you are using a stable tripod.

I would suggest as a next try ... to remove any lights that are lighting up the background. It is too bright and distracts. And play around with putting up a reflector (could be a chair with a white or off-white sheet on it just to the right of the camera because I'd like to see both your eyes lit at the same brightness. Oh, and bracket your exposure - you should be able to set it for automatic bracket.

[RLucas]

The focus is fine. Pillow, necklace, and lace area on the sleeves are all pretty sharp. This is motion blur. You moved your head. To get the shutter speed up, try putting it on spot metering, and try to meter off your face. It will probably significantly darken the background so you will need more light. Ramping the ISO may or may not not help in this case, as the shutter speed is way too slow already. At 24mm, try to aim for a shutter speed of at least 1/30. You could get away with slower since it's on a tripod, but I feel it's good practice to use a speed that is close to the reciprocal of the focal length just to be on the safe side.