Comments on: Just me

By: micki

micki — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 02:46:42 +0000

That is a wonderful self-portrait!!

Good to know I have someone for lighting tips now.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:56:19 +0000

@Bob: No specific reason for not having it before, other than being a bit camera shy. I am always the guy behind the camera. I got in front of the camera to have a new experience. It first it was a little uncomfortable, but then I thought of it as being silly. After a number of exposures I finally got something that I liked. Then I thought why not change the avatar to match this photo.

By: bob wong

bob wong — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 16:47:16 +0000

Paul, I like your new avatar. I don’t want to pry, but care to share the reason for not doing it before?

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:24:45 +0000

@Anita: I think that I’ll apply a bit of peer pressure. You “need” to do a self-portrait. Everyone else is doing it! (Yeah, I know! If everyone else was jumping off of a bridge, would you do it?) I heard that enough as a kid!

@Laurie: I do have a remote, but it is too short. I’d need a wireless one to pull this off, so I just used the self-timer.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:17:49 +0000

You did really well with this. You look cool and confident.

Self portraits are tough. I used a remote trigger and it focused ok for me. I had to change some settings because I don’t use my shutter to focus normally.

By: Anita Jesse

Anita Jesse — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:47:26 +0000

Very nice. I want to join the chorus of celebration. It’s the simplicity of this I especially like and the straightforward nature of it. As Gordon, said no hiding. (And, while I have no plans for a self-portrait, I appreciate Gordon’s tip for focusing.) But, I must say I especially like Mark’s idea for using this in on the blues album.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:53:40 +0000

Cool – could be a pic for your blues album.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:58:26 +0000

@Gordon: What an excellent idea. I’ll have to give that a try! I just did the trial and error thing. Lots of error! I had to be very careful during my hustle back to the picture taking position, being careful not to knock over the camera/tripod or the light stand. Like I said, it was a very narrow hallway.

By: Gordon McGregor

Gordon McGregor — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:44:58 +0000

Self portraits are a great creativity exercise – painful at first but it helps get you comfortable with yourself, too

I like this one – good lighting and the harmonica gives a bit of a clue about you. It is honest, you aren’t hiding, like many photographers do, behind shadows or reflections.

For focusing, there is an easy trick, if you are using a tripod. Stand, where you plan on standing, and use the camera to focus on the tripod head. Switch the camera to manual focus (so it won’t try to focus again) and then put the camera on the tripod. Then go back to where you planned on being and take the picture – or set the 10 second delay and hussle.)

If you get interested in doing this, an interval timer/ remote trigger can become very useful

By: Earl

Earl — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 11:36:26 +0000

Hey, I like this shot–it works! It’s got a serious but cool feel and the harmonica provides fuel for the viewers imagination.

Thanks for the mention.