Theme Thursday:  SELF PORTRAIT

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Being a photographer, I’m always trying to get the best portrait of others.  Finding the most flattering lighting and poses so they look their best.  Trying to show the best “them” that they are at that point in their lives.  I rarely get photos taken of me, being usually behind the camera.  When I do have photos they generally aren’t the most flattering…it is rare that a snapshot is flattering to most people.  How many times do you see a picture of yourself chewing your food at a holiday party or with your mouth agape and hands flailing in the air while talking?  They are fun (or funny…or embarrassing!) photos of a moment in time, but having something flattering to look at when you are 80 would be kinda nice, too, right?? 

It is time to take a picture of yourself again.  I did this at one point last year, when I had intended on taking more self portraits in 2008.  It did not get done, of course.  I think I got three, and two were just me modeling some stuff I made.  It takes time to get everything set up and time to make yourself look nice, which is generally in scant supply around here.  My plan for this year is to try to get at least one self portrait a month.  My hopes are that I can be creative with this project.  I don’t want to just produce headshots.  I want to use this as a way of self expression, and also to practice posing.  That is one thing that I really struggle with when taking pictures of others.  Posing is my downfall.

I would like everyone to challenge themselves to not just take a spur of the moment – I have two extra seconds – photograph, but one where you take the time to get the best picture of you.  Where when you look at it, you can say, “Man, I can look good when I’m not wearing fleece comfies, comb my hair and put some makeup on!”  I’m talking about a feel good photo and boost to your self esteem. 

I’m ahead of the game, and have a few here already.  Last Saturday I had a fresh red head dye job, and that is the best time to get a shot of it before it start fading.  Taking a self portrait is also the only time I get to do fun makeup, since I can’t exactly go to work like this…or really anywhere. 😉  I used to spent lots of time putting on makeup when I was a teenager.  I got in one of those clubs where they sucker you in with free stuff at the beginning and then make you buy makeup for the next 2 years.  I stockpiled a bit of makeup then and tried it all out.  I remember coming out of my room with dark blue eye shadow on my eyes and my mom giving me one of those “looks”.  It was the 80’s after all. 😉

I took these in our dining room. I have blue eyes, so I knew the blue of the wall would work well for that. I used a tripod with my speedlight pointed at the white ceiling and my 50mm lens. I used the remote, and it took me a bit to figure out that I need to select the delay for the remote so that it would actually have a chance to focus before it fired. You would think I would have figured that out by now!  

I took many, many pictures.  There were quite a few out of focus since I would be in the wrong spot, and just some unflattering angles, so don’t feel bad if it takes quite a few to get it right.  Figure out what works.  This also helps in getting other people to pose when you do it yourself.

Technicals:  f2.2, ISO 800, SS 1/40
 

  

Brian chose this last picture to put in his office at work.  He thinks I look like a ghost in the rest of them.  It replaced the other picture he had of me looking like Loreena McKennit.  He has gotten asked if that picture came with the frame several times LOL!  Having unusual pictures of your wife in your office might be just a bit odd, eh?? 😉

See YOU on Thursday!  I actually did mine already, and included the kids.  I knew I had to squeeze it in when I had time, so I’m on the ball for once and not scrambling on Wednesday night.  I wanted to get the kiddos in the shot with me, since that rarely happens, too.  I hope everyone has fun with this one. 🙂