ES APRIL -- "Self Portrait"

[Big Red]

As i will be away for a few days i thought i better put up the new thread before i leave...

Exercise in Style ...the Topic is "Self Portrait"

I have picked it because its a hard subject to do as people seem to be very critical of their own self made images and its quite hard to get your intended expression right when you can't see it before you shoot.

[the other reason is so we can put a face to a name ]


Submissions between 1-30 April 2006

THE RULES:

IMPORTANT: There are no prizes. This is not a challenge. It is an exercise...
1. All members are urged to participate with photos taken in the current month
2. All makes and models of camera accepted, FSLR, DSLR, P&S, pin hole, MF, LF
3. All method of Post Processing (PP) allowed- unless 'theme' states otherwise
4. Only one (1) image per member
5. Submissions valid between the 1st and last day of the month.
6. You may do more PP after posting your image
7. First person who posts an appropriate image gets to choose theme for next month
8. Have Fun !!

[Alpha_7]

Hahaha, Excellent!

[MATT]

Didnt we have an unofficial one this month already??

Craig PLEASE keep your shirt on!!

MATT

[Alpha_7]

Didnt we have an unofficial one this month already??

Craig PLEASE keep your shirt on!!

MATT

Ok, just because you've asked like 4 times now

[macka]

Didnt we have an unofficial one this month already??

Craig PLEASE keep your shirt on!!

MATT

I'm not taking any blame for any images that may be posted here.

[MATT]

Didnt we have an unofficial one this month already??

Craig PLEASE keep your shirt on!!

MATT

Ok, just because you've asked like 4 times now

Thankyou I still cant look back at those posts

Macka feel free to post yours in any form you like


MATT

[rokkstar]

Ha ha,

excellent. There has been a spate of SP's recently and I've watched peoples interpretation with interest.

The only problem is, I've run out of expressions and poses - the startled bunny look only works once

[Zeeke]

Shine a couple of spotlights at yaself and u'd get the stunned bunny look down pat

Tim

[CraigVTR]

Got my sb800 now, might give this one a try. Prepare to be scared.
Craig

[suzanneg]

I want macka to take mine

[nito]

This will be an intereting thread.

[losfp]

Bah. This exercise will unfairly favour the naturally beautiful.

That leaves most of the rest of us to bury the pretty people in an avalanche of scary SPs, guys!!

Just spent a rather unsatisfactory half hour experimenting with the light from the TV, a ceiling light in the next room, and my SB-800.

Needs work.

[stubbsy]

Ha ha,

excellent. There has been a spate of SP's recently and I've watched peoples interpretation with interest.

The only problem is, I've run out of expressions and poses - the startled bunny look only works once

You could post your Hoffmeister pic a la your avatar

Seriously though Matt - most people here seem to think your SPs work.

[Potatis]

Stubbsy, will you be doing a self portrait? I've always found that you have great character in pretty much all the photos I've seen of you. I'd be interested in seeing what you come up with, photographing yourself.

[leek]

Nice one Big Red... I haven't attempted anything like this before... and it's not easy to take your own photo... especially without a remote control...

My hat goes off to all the excellent self-portraiture that I've seen on this forum...

Here's my humble effort:

[the foto fanatic]

I want macka to take mine

That's OK - then I'll take Macka's!

[Geoff]

Nice one Big Red... I haven't attempted anything like this before... and it's not easy to take your own photo... especially without a remote control...

My hat goes off to all the excellent self-portraiture that I've seen on this forum...

Here's my humble effort:

John - and a good effort at that too. The pose is quite different for a self portrait and I think that's what's so appealing to this image. What was your backgroud? Can you talk us through how you achieved this shot. Your B&W conversion seems a little out of the ordinary too, I like it - what was your postvprocessing on this image? Thanks for sharing. PS - I see this as the 'first appropriate' image - does this mean you choose May's ES?

[Manta]

What was your background?

I think you'll find it's "Welsh".



(Sorry, that was pathetic, even for me...)

[Geoff]

What was your background?

I think you'll find it's "Welsh".



(Sorry, that was pathetic, even for me...)

Dear oh dear oh deary me...heheehe....funny none the less Simon

[macka]

What was your background?

I think you'll find it's "Welsh".



(Sorry, that was pathetic, even for me...)

Dear oh dear oh deary me...heheehe....funny none the less Simon

Oh dear.

Leek,

I like this portrait. Simple, effective, nice lighting. If I was nitpicking, it looks as though you are turning away from the camera slightly, where a straight profile might have been preferable...but I know how hard it is to get one's own head in frame let alone at a particular angle. Nicely done.

[leek]

What was your background?

I think you'll find it's "Welsh".



(Sorry, that was pathetic, even for me...)

 ROFL... very droll Simon...

The background for my shot was a gyprock wall that's still to be painted... I was about 40cm from the camera and the wall was about 1.5m behind me...

I took about 57 shots - most of them front on, but I liked this profile shot... It's very different to the shot I started out with - heavily cropped - I then used high contrast, desaturated and then played with highlights/shadows to bring out some detail...
It looks like I need a good facial, but I can guarantee that my pores are not that dirty!!!

[macka]

Alright, I've had a go.

I wanted to try something low key, as I've never tried it before. Lighting was a small lamp bounced off a white sheet of paper. Originally this image had a mid-grey background, and I've done an amatuer job of changing it to black. Would particularly appreciate suggestions as to how I can do this more effectively (my left shoulder and ear have very soft edges as a result of what I did.) Used the 50mm/f1.8.




Adjusted levels, contrast, applied gaussian blur to skin and sharpened eye and lips.

Cheers

[Manta]

Macka - I think the way it is is fine. Excellent, in fact. If I was to "nitpick" (as you say above ) I'd like to see the frame dropped slightly to show more of your hand and less of the blank space above your head. The way the light plays on the hand would provide more interest. I'd probably trim some space from the right hand side - if it's not classic thirds then dead centre would perhaps be more appealing. Just my thoughts...

[macka]

I'd like to see the frame dropped slightly to show more of your hand and less of the blank space above your head. The way the light plays on the hand would provide more interest.

Hmm..yes, good point. What is now the space above my head used to be my head when the background was lighter, and after making it black I didn't reconsider the composition. Thanks

[phillipb]

Very intriguing portrait Macka. What I find unususal is the very masculine pose (to me anyway) contrasted by the very feminine face. Very interesting.

[suzanneg]

Another beautiful shot. Creates mystery, which keeps the eye drawn to the photo, as you try to imagine what's in the dark part of the photo. Very dramatic effect.

[leek]

Alright, I've had a go.
I wanted to try something low key, as I've never tried it before.

Ah... the advantages of youth... You have so much less to play with - less fat, less blemishes...

A very nice shot macka, but I prefer the other self-portrait that you did...
A hint of detail on the dark side of your face would improve it - maybe a slightly reflective surface facing the lamp to slightly light up the other side of the face?
Good work though - at least I'm not alone in publishing my mug... even if I'm alone in publishing my ugly mug...

[Glen]

John, great self portrait, love the contrast and B&W. For me, I think I prefer it cropped into a square without the ear. You look very serious

Macka, like the portrait but agee with Simon, even really the concept of seeing just where you chin would be (as it is covered by your hand) as there is so much space on top. Lighting is very effective

[stubbsy]

Stubbsy, will you be doing a self portrait? I've always found that you have great character in pretty much all the photos I've seen of you. I'd be interested in seeing what you come up with, photographing yourself.

How can I resist such a challenge. I find this image a touch confronting (which is the idea), but have to say I had no problem with the whole SP concept. In fact I've a few other good ones I'll post elsewhere. Click the pic for a larger version where the grain in the image shows better.



Edit: Guess I should say what I did too. I sat on the floor against a white wall in my hallway. On a stool in front of me at face height I sat the camera set to commander mode. On the floor I had my SB800 in slave mode and angled up at me. Then I took the pics (307 of them!) using the remote (which is behind my head) to fire the camera. For PP I used the Nik Color Efex B & W Dynamic Contrast filter for the B & W conversion then added a little noise in Photoshop.

[Alpha_7]

Some really nice shots, Stubbsy nice work the SP, I like your take one it.

Macka - Great work with the lighting, simple yet so affective.

John - I like it, but where is the Cigar ? I think the profile works well.

[blacknstormy]

OH MY GOD Stubbsy
didn't realise how hairy you were !!!!!!!! LOL

[sirhc55]

[Glen]

Rel, thats the mystery prize we will be having at the AW this year if you can make it. We are going to shear Stubbsy and knit someone a nice jumper with the clip.

[suzanneg]

Stubbsy, there's defiance in your eyes, like someone is ordering you to line up against the wall. Strong shot - I like it.
I've had a go as well. I used the timer, pressed the button, and got into my lounge chair. Lighting was a lamp and the on-board flash.
I had to learn how to do everything in Photoshop for the first the time - dodging, burning, guassian blur, sharpening (alot was required ) and black and white conversion. Here is the result.

[suzanneg]

Having trouble getting the photo to post for some reason?

[stubbsy]

Suzanne. The problem is the & in the filename. Rename it so there is no & then make the same change here and it will work.

OH MY GOD Stubbsy
didn't realise how hairy you were !!!!!!!! LOL

Is that good or bad Rel

Chris
Interesting use of DOF on yours.

[suzanneg]

Thanks Stubbsy, here it is...


Interesting shot Chris - I like the unusual crop.

[rokkstar]

Chris,

AWESOME!
That was the style i was going to go for. CLose up partial crop. Love the lighting and the background colour. Great DOF.

Love it.

[Glen]

Chris, interesting crop, great focus on the eyes on a self portrait

Suzanne, nice even lighting and good sharp eyes, though the flash or lamp makes it look like you have white pupils. A moment in PS could change that.

[MATT]

Chris I like this..

I am trying to capture my 3 girls in a similar manner, Then B=W then blow up huge and put on the wall.

I jsut cant get the right shots yet

MATT

[spartikus]

OK, I'll bite..

Haven't really done much SP stuff except for the usual take photos of yourself in a reflection etc.



This one turned out ok, just used my small halogen desk lamp in my face, maybe less than a foot away. Spot metered on my face, rest of the room was pretty much dark, hence the black background (was just sitting in my computer chair ). Only partially cropped - I did agonise over the framing for a long time but I wanted to emphasise the eyes.

Does it work?

[stubbsy]

Chris

This image works really well. The eyes really do grab the attention.

[suzanneg]

Very engaging eyes.

[macka]

Spartikus - I think this is great. As a thought, there's enough interest in your eyes to do an even narrower crop of just your eyes.

Chris - Nice. I like the crop and the background colour. I would sharpen your eye a little more.

Mum - you've already heard my comments I would try and blend the line between your hair and the backgorund - try using a brush at 1/2 opacity.

Stubbsy - In a word, wow. The eye contact, and the expression are brilliant. I really like the high contrast and grain effect as well. So dramatic!

[SteveGriffin]

I might have another go at this yet but here is my first. Taken whilst 'hanging around' on the decompression line 6 metres down under at the HMAS Brisbane this morning.



I would have liked a wider lens to try this but I had the 60 Micro on which doesn't give a lot of options. Image is uncropped with minor saturation and contrast adjustments.

[Manta]

Nice one Steve. Good to see you in your other office...

[Steffen]

Me and my evil twin:



Cheers
Steffen.

[Newidude]

Nice, never thought of doing a mirror image.
I did have a really good idea but time is just not an option at the moment so I put in a picture from a couple of weeks ago. I did make a thread for it as I did not (notice I did not type "didn't) know everyone was posting there portraits in here.


'What I Done'
Shot infront of a white curtain with on flash to my left covered in baking paper to diffuse. Kitchen sink behind me at waist level with another flash inside it 3 stops above to blow out the curtain and give a stong rim. Also have a baking tray to my right covered in foil to act as a reflector.

[Alpha_7]

Me and my evil twin:



Cheers
Steffen.

Your and your twin are freaking me out. It's quite bizarre, I like it, but it's freaky!

[stubbsy]

Steffen

Interesing concept and it shows off the asymmetry of the face fantastically well. Which image do you like better (and is it left or right side)?