Low-key self-portrait: get-pushed162, best on black
Gees, that was a lot of work! Researching, reading, settings, posing, getting frustrated, reading more etc. etc... My challenge was from @summerfield to take a low-key self-portrait. On top of the lack of skills, my problem was also generally not liking pictures of myself. Don't get me wrong - I love myself, including myself in a mirror ;), it's just there is hardly any photographs of me as an adult that I like looking at. So, a double challenge. A half a night worth of work, and here is the result. I would love to hear any opinions, suggestions and critique!
my first get pushed challenge was a low key self-portrait and ever since i've been wanting to have a self-portrait like this. that's why i give this as a challenge so you could tell me how you did this. i really love the lighting here. and what's so special here is you not only show your beautiful face, but also your personality as evidenced by the elegant jewelry you're wearing. and that's what self portraits should be, i believe, showing your audience your personality.
self portraits can make you feel comfortable in front of the camera. you take your picture on your own terms. i didn't have a lot of photographs before because i was the one who was supposed to be good with the camera, and if i wanted to be in a group photo, i always had to learn how to use the self-timer. if someone else would take my photo, i never liked it, even though everyone else would say i looked good. what may look good to you may not look good to me. so take matters into your own hands and take a self-portrait.
Well done. You nailed the challenge. I was the same as you, spent hours reading and equal amount Of time trying to get the shot. i think i must have deleted about 30 shots... my partner thought i was a mad woman. U would have to say that this challenge taught me a lit about lighting, but Here's to hoping that we never get this challenge again... Haha
An excellent low light self portrait. A style more often seen with men as the subject. Your image has a feeling of mystery. I always feel if you are going to view an image with lots of black along the edges against a black background, it should have a thin boarder to define the frame, otherwise you loose the sense of composition, in you image loosing the symmetrical feel.
@roulin Спасибо! Как охарактеризовала моя сестра - получился портрет из серии "Она стреляла в царя" :) Серебро помогло, согласна - а то получалось скучно как-то.
@summerfield Thank you so much for your response and for the vote on the challenge! It was a very fun project, and the funnest part was that it did turn out to be a real challenge. I ended up having the iso set up for 100 and tried to expose for the lit areas. It was done at night, so it was dark, and I just used a reading light to light the "subject" from one side. I tried a flashlight and a cellphone light - both two harsh, and the iPad glow was too weak for what I wanted to do. I didn't correct for the white balance in the camera, so the pictures turned out with very yellow skin tone, which didn't matter because I turned it into black and white afterwards. A very helpful advice I read was to put the camera into burst mode, with shots firing every 5 seconds or so. My camera allows up to 9 shots like this after a delayed shutter release, and it was great as it lets you get playful and relaxed in front of the camera as you change poses and expressions. So, thanks a gain - as I learned a lot and got a self-portrait.
Oh my, thank you so much! This was probably the most challenging shot I did since he beginning of this project - both because of the learning and trying that went into it, and also because of the inevitability of being in front of the camera myself. I was so glad to read all the wonderful comments and reactions! Thank you so much - it was incredibly encouraging.
@bob65 I see you point about the thin frame - however, I also liked the effect I get without it if I view it on black - without the frame it looks like the person in the shot is lost in the giant dark space with nothing around "for miles"
@calimama80 I also have to thank you, as I thought of your recent self-portrait and the calm and straightforward look in it that is so appealing in your photo.
@jack4john Thanks, John for the flattery - made me smile.
@epcello@calimama80 - Thanks for mentioning jewelery! I love my silver rings and bracelets, and I was happy they could be incorporated in the shot!
@vera365 - glad you had fun and enjoyed the process. i meant to congratulate you for having been chosen as a finalist. this is really an excellent portrait. some of the experts would probably say this is not perfect, but that is okay. we're here to learn. but to me, i love this as i've been trying to do something like this but couldn't. maybe time to try again. thank you, too!
September 9th, 2015
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
self portraits can make you feel comfortable in front of the camera. you take your picture on your own terms. i didn't have a lot of photographs before because i was the one who was supposed to be good with the camera, and if i wanted to be in a group photo, i always had to learn how to use the self-timer. if someone else would take my photo, i never liked it, even though everyone else would say i looked good. what may look good to you may not look good to me. so take matters into your own hands and take a self-portrait.
Joking apart a very artistic and creative photo , well done
Oh my, thank you so much! This was probably the most challenging shot I did since he beginning of this project - both because of the learning and trying that went into it, and also because of the inevitability of being in front of the camera myself. I was so glad to read all the wonderful comments and reactions! Thank you so much - it was incredibly encouraging.
@bob65 I see you point about the thin frame - however, I also liked the effect I get without it if I view it on black - without the frame it looks like the person in the shot is lost in the giant dark space with nothing around "for miles"
@calimama80 I also have to thank you, as I thought of your recent self-portrait and the calm and straightforward look in it that is so appealing in your photo.
@jack4john Thanks, John for the flattery - made me smile.
@epcello @calimama80 - Thanks for mentioning jewelery! I love my silver rings and bracelets, and I was happy they could be incorporated in the shot!
Thank you all so much!