Another Attempt at a Self-Portrait: I was playing around in my studio, attempting once again to see if I could do a better self portrait. The last one I did, my son said I had that...

Quickflash Loc: Loganville, Ga

I was playing around in my studio, attempting once again to see if I could do a better self portrait. The last one I did, my son said I had that look on my face like I did when I was about to tell him to clean up his room. Anyway, I would like to get your opinions. This 1st one, I thought was okay, but the 2nd one was shot by accident. I thought it might look better in B&W. Tell me what you all think.

Thanks in advance for you C&C.

Me

Shot by accident
Shot by accident...

B&W Me

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

You are doing better than I am. I really like the 1st one in that it seems true to life as far as color, clarity and exposure. The only thing I would say to do is to reduce that bright spot on your left forehead as well as that little spot of light near the tip of your nose. Also, if you can, get rid of the bright light along the ridge of your nose that is on your left.

I like the B&W best out of the next two. But there is just something wrong with that shirt. It does not go with the photo. I know it sounds weird but a button shirt with an open collar would look much better. Anything but the shirt you are wearing.

In any event, these are good photos, I think. They are much better than my self portrait that I posted last week.

Quickflash Loc: Loganville, Ga

tainkc wrote:

You are doing better than I am. I really like the... (show quote)

Tom, Thanks for your kind words and suggestions. I agree that the highlights you mentioned were a bit blown out. Lighting to me is still very tricky. Getting it off the camera was a big step forward. Using off camera flash instead of constant light is what I am trying to master now, but that is still a work in progress for me.
As for the shirt, you are correct again. A nicer shirt with a collar always looks better. What happened was I just got a new toy, a reflector in the mail. I got so excited I didn't give a thought to what I was wearing!
I believe I saw your portrait. Was that you in the cool sweater? You make a much better model than I do! You are younger and much less wrinkly. Self-portraits are not easy. I only do them to learn how to set my lights & Camera so when I get someone like my grandkids or girlfriend in front of the camera I get better results.
We will both keep trying, but I can only hope that one day I will be 1/10 as good as some of the pros on this site.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Quickflash wrote:

quote=tainkc You are doing better than I am. I r... (show quote)

Oh, so we are going to have problems with clothing, are we? I thought my sweater was dumb. Lol. Anyway, I think you nailed the off camera flash pretty well. You are 10 steps ahead of me since I do not have any type of equipment yet. But as for the lighter spots, I think you can take it so far in camera. What you have there can be fixed in pp. It would be good practice. That part I am pretty good at. I still haven't been able to make myself look like Tyrone Power yet.

Quickflash Loc: Loganville, Ga

First off, you are not as far behind as you think. Once you get your flash off the camera, you will be amazed at how fast you catch up, and probably pass me! You also seem to come up with pretty ladies to shoot, whereas I usually have to settle for either my ugly mug or my cat or dog.
I did a good bit of PP on these already, but lighting should be done correctly before pressing the shutter. I think I was close, but no cigar.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Quickflash wrote:

First off, you are not as far behind as you think. Once you get your flash off the camera, you will be amazed at how fast you catch up, and probably pass me! You also seem to come up with pretty ladies to shoot, whereas I usually have to settle for either my ugly mug or my cat or dog.
I did a good bit of PP on these already, but lighting should be done correctly before pressing the shutter. I think I was close, but no cigar.

O.k. Lol.

Karenn Loc: Sydney Australia.

I think you did a great job. Even getting behind the camera as I never do because always taking the shots. So well done. I also just got a reflector in the mail and finding it very useful. I think you saw some of my Olivia in colour and B x w shots recently. Have also posted "Visitor at the farm this weekend" and "My garden in summer." Have been looking at some of yout past post, love the trians, husband was impressed.

Quickflash wrote:

I was playing around in my studio, attempting once again to see if I could do a better self portrait. The last one I did, my son said I had that look on my face like I did when I was about to tell him to clean up his room. Anyway, I would like to get your opinions. This 1st one, I thought was okay, but the 2nd one was shot by accident. I thought it might look better in B&W. Tell me what you all think.

Thanks in advance for you C&C.

DWHJR Loc: Kannapolis NC

Quickflash wrote:

I was playing around in my studio, attempting once again to see if I could do a better self portrait. The last one I did, my son said I had that look on my face like I did when I was about to tell him to clean up his room. Anyway, I would like to get your opinions. This 1st one, I thought was okay, but the 2nd one was shot by accident. I thought it might look better in B&W. Tell me what you all think.

Thanks in advance for you C&C.

I like the B&W very, very much. Posing yourself in front of the camera seems to me would be the hardest thing of all. I think you nailed it. Very nice!
I can see what your son is saying about #1' had similar looks from my dad growing up and usually I thought to myself oh ____!

Quickflash Loc: Loganville, Ga

[quote=Karenn]I think you did a great job. Even getting behind the camera as I never do because always taking the shots. So well done. I also just got a reflector in the mail and finding it very useful. I think you saw some of my Olivia in colour and B x w shots recently. Have also posted "Visitor at the farm this weekend" and "My garden in summer." Have been looking at some of yout past post, love the trians, husband was impressed.

Karenn, thanks for looking at my stuff and for your kind reply. I do recall seeing some of your photos too. I really loved the photos of Olivia. Your landscape photos make me want to visit your country.
We love trains and are in the process of building a large train room in our basement to display our 5 trains (and counting).
If we ever get it done, there will be lots of photos posted here.

Quickflash Loc: Loganville, Ga

DWHJR wrote:

I like the B&W very, very much. Posing yourself in front of the camera seems to me would be the hardest thing of all. I think you nailed it. Very nice!
I can see what your son is saying about #1' had similar looks from my dad growing up and usually I thought to myself oh ____!

Thanks for you kind words. It is a bit challenging to put my own mug in front of the camera. I have to say it is a testament to the durability of Canon products that made such an undertaking possible. A lesser camera or lens would surely have been severely damaged!
Funny, but I don't usually like B&W, but I thought this one was interesting. My lady-friend liked it better in color. I'm happy knowing that you and others liked seeing it.

DWHJR Loc: Kannapolis NC

Quickflash wrote:

quote=DWHJR br I like the B&W very, very muc... (show quote)

Nothing beats B&W when it is done well. You did it justice my friend.

pcwilson Loc: New Mexico

Here's your first one in b/w.

(I just read how to post an image here - hope it goes thru.)

Quickflash Loc: Loganville, Ga

Nothing beats B&W when it is done well. You did it justice my friend.[/quote]

Thanks. I generally like color better, but maybe B&W suits an old wrinkly face better! lol

Quickflash Loc: Loganville, Ga

pcwilson wrote:

Here's your first one in b/w.

(I just read how to post an image here - hope it goes thru.)

Thank you. You did good! However, a word of caution. I have no problem at all with this, but some of our fellow UHH members are very touchy about people altering their images without asking permission. Like I said, I am more than cool with it, but some will bite your head off for that. Ask 1st in the future, unless the photo is mine, than just do it! :thumbup:

pcwilson Loc: New Mexico

Thanks for the warning!