A portrait of the real me! Zen teaches that fundamentally the photographer aims the camera at themselves! So, I did. This image is, once again, the result of a class assignment some...

scsdesphotography Loc: Southeastern Michigan

Zen teaches that fundamentally the photographer aims the camera at themselves! So, I did. This image is, once again, the result of a class assignment some years ago. We were to produce three images of ourselves. one of how we think other people see us. Then she wanted an image of how we really are and the third was to represent how we want others to see us

This is my image of "how I really am." As usual the assignment was due in the next day, another one of my last-minute late-night sessions. I was inspired by the cover of David Bowie's "Young Americans" album. I set my camera on a tripod and used the timer to give me time to get in position. This was taken in my sunroom using just the overhead light. My challenges were getting proper focus on me and of making the smoke visible. The focus is off a little, I didn't have a stand-in so I got as close as could to a proper focus. I did nail the wall clock though! I really needed a side light to catch the smoke properly, but since I was in a hurry to get this done, I did the best I could with the room light. Aside from some technical issues, this B&W image does convey the feeling and mood that I wanted to show. What do you think?

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tramsey Loc: Texas

I understand, everything to you is black and white and a little fuzzy.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I think your self assessment is right on. It's great you did this and shared it. I did one of myself a while back, and self portraiture is difficult. (Unless you use a cell phone. LOL.) It also a learning experience.

scsdesphotography Loc: Southeastern Michigan

tramsey wrote:

I understand, everything to you is black and white and a little fuzzy.

Hi Tramsey, you are so right! However, I actually see both sides of an image, color and B&W. I choose the one that best serves the criteria to make it into a photograph.

scsdesphotography Loc: Southeastern Michigan

JD750 wrote:

I think your self assessment is right on. It's great you did this and shared it. I did one of myself a while back, and self portraiture is difficult. (Unless you use a cell phone. LOL.) It also a learning experience.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

scsdesphotography wrote:

Hi Tramsey, you are so right! However, I actually see both sides of an image, color and B&W. I choose the one that best serves the criteria to make it into a photograph.

Another thought, is thinking ahead while shooting, what is the best format for this. Yes you still shoot in color, or raw if you're using raw, you can review it in BW on the monitor, but it's still captures all the colors. Having that mind-set might make a difference in how you frame & compose the image. Or maybe not. Just food for thought.

tramsey Loc: Texas

JD750 wrote:

Another thought, is thinking ahead while shooting, what is the best format for this. Yes you still shoot in color, or raw if you're using raw, you can review it in BW on the monitor, but it's still captures all the colors. Having that mind-set might make a difference in how you frame & compose the image. Or maybe not. Just food for thought.

Yes I shoot in raw but I rarely do anything with B/W except shots of lines, shapes and texture most everything else is color and I just about ignore B/W

srt101fan

scsdesphotography wrote:

Zen teaches that fundamentally the photographer ai... (show quote)

Interesting image but I'm not quite sure how to react. I also had to do self-portraits for a class, one showing you in the positive view you had of your self, the other the opposite. Quite challenging and thought-provoking. Have you ever heard of Ralph Hattersley? He wrote a book called "Discover Your Self Through Photography". Kind of a confusing book....

scsdesphotography Loc: Southeastern Michigan

srt101fan wrote:

Interesting image but I'm not quite sure how to react. I also had to do self-portraits for a class, one showing you in the positive view you had of your self, the other the opposite. Quite challenging and thought-provoking. Have you ever heard of Ralph Hattersley? He wrote a book called "Discover Your Self Through Photography". Kind of a confusing book....

Thanks srt101fan. If the image left you feeling uncertain or confused about what you're seeing, then I would say that it was a successful attempt to convey a feeling and a mood. I haven't read that book, but I like the title.

scsdesphotography Loc: Southeastern Michigan

JD750 wrote:

Another thought, is thinking ahead while shooting, what is the best format for this. Yes you still shoot in color, or raw if you're using raw, you can review it in BW on the monitor, but it's still captures all the colors. Having that mind-set might make a difference in how you frame & compose the image. Or maybe not. Just food for thought.

Hi JD750, I do shoot in RAW. I process the images in color using Lightroom and Photoshop. I did six different version of this composition, the B&W conversions communicated the concept I was trying for better than the color ones. The one I posted was as close as I could get to my pre-visualization within the time frame that I had. This assignment was due in the next day!

JD750 Loc: SoCal

tramsey wrote:

Yes I shoot in raw but I rarely do anything with B/W except shots of lines, shapes and texture most everything else is color and I just about ignore B/W

Well that’s fine if that’s what you like.

Hip Coyote

I like this shot a lot. It makes me stop, look at all the elements in the shot, but continue to come back to your face to try to figure out just who the heck you are! My eye ran around the edges for a few moments, to your face and back again.

I think it works.