I recently moved from Tucson, Arizona to Modesto, California.
I finished my Ph.D. in Political Science focusing on American Government and International Relations. I have a...
Love love love love. The hat + eyes = super awesome shot. Drop your focal point a little more and nail the focus on those wonderful eyes. Your focal point is just a little high. For this shot, it works well, but for a portrait, you have to nail the focus on the eyes. Hit the left one eye. If you have Lightroom, you may be able to pull that left eye in focus.
Love everything about this shot, but you asked for advice so there you go! In my portrait work with people, EVERYTHING can be knocked out of focus but the eyes. The eyes are the window to the soul and the heart of the shot. I'm experimenting with an 85mm at 1.8 or wider which means that the only thing in focus is the eye. But for me, that's all that's necessary.
@thomastoth Great advice. that is sooo hard to get right with selfies, I find. Any suggestions how to focus on yourself best? I find I guess a lot, try to focus on someone where I will be or an object in that place.
I can't see your Exif info, but you may want to stop down your aperture. Go from 5.6 to 6.3 or even 7.1 to get the "general area" in focus. If you really want the blur of a wide open aperture, you may be able to do it convincingly in post. Use LightRoom or OnOne and play. You could really pull off a tack sharp eye and gradient the blur off that focal point after the shot in post. :)
@thomastoth I actually used a f/3.2 but it is so hard to get the correct focus on selfies. I really like f/1.8 for portraits. I just wish I had someone to model for me. I don't do really well with processing but I think that's going to have to be one of the next things that I learn in photography, when I can get lightroom anyways.
Thank you for your advice! I admire your portraits and am so glad that you were willing to take the time to give advice!
Fabulous -- you're an inspiration to me, especially this week since I have to create a selfie. We'll see -- I can't do anything like what you've been doing.
Love everything about this shot, but you asked for advice so there you go! In my portrait work with people, EVERYTHING can be knocked out of focus but the eyes. The eyes are the window to the soul and the heart of the shot. I'm experimenting with an 85mm at 1.8 or wider which means that the only thing in focus is the eye. But for me, that's all that's necessary.
I'm so glad I follow you. I love your work!
Thank you for your advice! I admire your portraits and am so glad that you were willing to take the time to give advice!
But watch the strong lighting, back of the cheek is too light. fav.