Any tips on self-portraits besides a better camera or a prettier face?

[babylonsister]

I tried one once via a mirror and got the cabinet below.

I have a Kodak digital, the day pics usually come out okay. Witness my yacht, and dinghy, too overexposed after I tried diddling with it due to the overcast day, but, lunch is on me:

[Adsos Letter]

1. Hey! Can I steer for awhile....

...pleeeeeeeeeeze?

[NV Whino]

2. yacht's nice

But I would be happy with the dinghy.

Jesus, look at the size of that thing compared with the size of the people.

[babylonsister]

9. Just heard it's owned by a telecom magnate in MX, which is where

I was when this behemoth floated in.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. tripod and off camera flash

work best, if you can do it.

[babylonsister]

7. Thanks! nt

[mth44sc]

4. I gotta get me

a better boat...



ps - I flunk the "prettier face" test so I don't even try...

[babylonsister]

8. LOL! That's actually better than mine; I don't have one.

I was kidding in the OP, in case anyone thinks otherwise. :P

[intheflow]

5. I can't see a cabinet photo.

:shrug:

But I actually take a lot of self-portraits. (Mostly because there were no photos of me in the first 10 years I was shooting as I was always behind the camera.) But there are a few things you can do.

If your camera has a timer on it, you can set it and run into the photo. no tripod? Any ol' steady surface will do. I personally hate to carry tripods, so I learned how to improvise placing my camera on a variety of surfaces. The first shot example I'll post was of me and sweetie on a California beach. The camera was on a rock. The second shot is me and my friend Ella being goofy. The camera is on top of a bookcase.



It's good that you have a digital because you can take a million shots. Believe me, your first 10 thousand attempts will yield blurs (as it captures you still running into the shot), or deer-in-the-headlight expressions on your face, or you're half cut out of the shot. Just delete what you don't like. :) The main thing to do is have something to sit on or stand next to that you can focus on, then run into the photo being as close to that focus point as possible. Try both using a flash and not using a flash to see which lighting you like better. On an auto setting with the flash turned off, your camera will adjust to most low-light situations and since its on a steady surface, it won't blur from camera shake.

If you want to try your hand with a mirror shot, the first thing to remember is no flash no matter what. Otherwise, you get a photo of a flash. :thumbsdown: So you'll need good light because it's harder to shoot hand-held in low light because you get camera shake. Also, it's important to put your reflection in focus, so it helps if you can put your camera at the same approximate distance from the mirror as your body. Here's a recent self-portrait; note how I've got the camera right next to my head so it's about the same distance as when I focused on myself in the mirror.



A few words about lighting. If you're going to take photos outside like the first photo of me and my sweetie, it's best not to do it in direct sunlight. If the sun in in front of you lighting up your face, you're squinting. If it's directly overhead your image will be washed out, over exposed. If the light is behind you, use your flash so your face won't be in shadow. Overcast days or taking a photo under a tree or on a porch will even out the light nicely as long as your camera is under that same shade, you won't even need a flash.

Good luck! :hi:

[babylonsister]

6. Thanks, itf. Yes, a little tripod did come with it, but I really haven't read up

on it. And you don't want to see my attempts; trust me! I'm going to use your tips outside when the sun comes out.

[zytime]

11. My favorites have been taken like that

One of my two favorite self portraits was taken indoors with a tripod, timer, and a single bare bulb for lighting. It was B/W and ended making for some pretty dramatic shadows across my face. Like intheflow, I found a reference point on the ground, both for camera focus and for me to know where to stand. I also found a reference on the wall so that I would have my body in the right place to be framed in the picture the way I wanted. I kept it close to the camera to give myself more time to get in position and get composed for the shot.

My other favorite was taken on a rock outside with a timer. I'm not sure about lighting, but it was natural and came out great. The only thing about the ghetto-fabulous approach is that there can be a compromise between the sturdiness of the surface and the angle of the shot. The sturdiest surface may not yield the exact angle or framing of the picture that you're looking for, while any adjustments to get the right framing can reduce the stability. Like intheflow says, it takes practice. Good luck!

[Mz Pip]

10. Can I be your best friend?

Self portraits are hard. I had to do three for a class and photshopped the hell out of them so that I was barely recognizable.

[alfredo]

12. Be creative. Reflections in unlikely objects. Distort your image

through glass, plexiglas, Saran Wrap. Zoom in on one part of your face.

I took a piece of plexiglas, scraped it up, sanded it and held it in front of my face.

http://homepage.mac.com/alfredo_tomato/Random_Images/PhotoAlbum17.html

[babylonsister]

13. I remember those pics; very cool. Thanks for the inspiration. I might

get off my butt and actually try it!