Thanks to the knowledge gained from Shoot Fly Shoot’s Photography Course, I found this article on Pinterest.
Source: chookooloonks.com shared by Rita on Pinterest
Recently, I felt it was time to refresh my portrait from when I was 2 years old.
I mused, “Perhaps I should try taking a portrait of myself!”
Karen’s guidance on self-portraits seemed achievable. However, I wasn't foolish enough to believe it would be simple. Past attempts yielded comical outcomes, showing me that even though they appear effortless, capturing a woman with a camera near her shoulder is neither fast nor straightforward.
I studied her instructions meticulously and made every effort to adhere to them precisely.
“First, attend to your appearance.” Thankfully, my hair looked great that day. I secretly wished I could instantly shed 15 pounds, but that’s a complex topic; I decided against discussing it. Nevertheless, I followed her advice, choosing clothes I felt good in—especially since I wanted to showcase my new boots, which I adore.
“Next, locate a sizable mirror” This was effortless; I possess only one large mirror in my home. She stressed that it needed thorough cleaning, which surprised me by how dusty it was. If this endeavor failed entirely, at least I would have a clean mirror.
“Then, get your camera, ensuring you use a standard lens” .”A “standard lens” meant this one I possess:
which is also “my sole lens.” {Though a 50mm lens she mentioned is very appealing to me.}
“4. Seek out adequate illumination.”I went outside for better light. Despite a typical gray winter day, a tiny bit of sun pierced the clouds. It was already 4 pm, so I knew the sun would soon descend below the horizon…
“5. Position yourself before the mirror (about three or four feet distant) and review your background” Does it feel strange to stand outside your front door, sitting on the sidewalk, and photograph yourself in a mirror?
Perhaps not? Trust me; it feels quite peculiar.
“7. Confirm your lens is on the same plane as your face. A difficulty in this self-portrait technique is keeping your face sharp.” That is an understatement. I followed her counsel and utilized autofocus; it proved helpful, though a bit uncertain about the focal point…
…a lovely frame…
…a charming playground setting…
“8. SMILE.” It sounds simple, correct? But honestly…smiling at yourself in a mirror feels odd…
“9. Take pictures incessantly” like a maniac.” Karen elaborated that many shots are needed before finding a preferred one; she took 550. I initially thought this was hyperbole, but now I see she meant it literally! How hard is it to aim the lens when photographing yourself? {Is there a secret I'm missing??}
Forget the precise focus on my face; I was amazed my face even appeared in the shot!!
…oh no! Do not crop that side of my head; that is my “best side” of hair…
…who actually needs a forehead??
Oops. I appear slightly inebriated…
When I concluded this “experiment,” the sun was nearly gone, rain was falling, and I had captured over 150 images.
This single photograph is the one I somewhat appreciate.
Her instruction was simply to 'proceed normally'; truthfully, I lack a standard method for photo editing. {Perhaps I should enroll in a Photoshop course!} However, I found enjoyment in Pioneer Woman’s Fresh and Colorful Action. After running that, I experimented with the light and saturation levels, subsequently trimming the image and applying an edge burn, another Pioneer Woman action.
This result will suffice for the moment.
I am incredibly grateful to Karen for her valuable guidance; this would have been impossible without her detailed, step-by-step assistance!
You can find more at: My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Home Stories A-Z
