The Hair Project by maggiemae

The Hair Project

I’m trying to do a portrait shot and as I’m the only model around that had hair, and will sit still for 5secs, it had to be me! I wanted to put light on hair rather than face but even though its acceptable its not as good as the professionals! Lighting from the side, the back, the diffused lighting….?

Three good things:
1 John got some good exercise today - planking for 60secs and pulling out the cork on a bottle of French Red - that was exhausting but rewarding!
2. Made “Oakhill Potatoes” - the recipe came from Alison Holst a great lady in NZ from the 1960’s who was on TV etc, in health and easy recipes. She sadly now has alzheimers.
3. The curly hair came from the fact that I was enjoying 365 after shampooing and didn’t get to the blow dry in time!
I can't do portraits at all, so to me this is really intriguing -- the lighting is wonderful and the way you used light to frame it works well.
August 30th, 2015  
I see some nice light on your lovely wavy hair...nice selfie and great head of hair :)
August 30th, 2015  
@taffy Its fun to do, Taffy but in private!
August 30th, 2015  
The light on your hair is just right, makes it very pretty. Portrait shots are quite tricky I would think. I think the face needs some shadow or highlights from what I have seen from other portraits. I like this though and the framing Is very effective.
August 30th, 2015  
@jennywren Yes, - its not at all what I tried to duplicate but I think a lot of portraits are done with good lighting in a studio setting. However I did learn something.
August 30th, 2015  
Great shot :)
August 30th, 2015  
I think you have done well with the light on your lovely wavy hair. Sitting still for 5 secs also an achievement. You look like you are so concentrated and holding your breath. Well done! Nice self portrait.
August 30th, 2015  
Oh my goodness you are braver than me...I think you did a super job of lighting & framing
August 30th, 2015  
Great portrait
August 30th, 2015  
@kiwinanna You do have to hold your breath using 3 shots for HDR, Liana! Under dark light too - longer exposure setting.
August 30th, 2015  
You made my day. Bed time here already 10:45 pm. I also do not have models here, The cat seems to be tired of that to because, I did not see him all day! Ha ha and the hair. I do have a lot to and do have to blow dry immediately or else you might get a fright.
August 30th, 2015  
Great selfie! And I do like the wavy hair. Nice lighting too.
August 30th, 2015  
@sdutoit My hair looks alright on the first day - wavy and curly but the next day I look a fright too!
August 30th, 2015  
Bep
Fav for your 'light on the hair project'.
August 30th, 2015  
I like this. The light on the hair is beautiful and reflected in your border. Just thought there could have been a little more contrast on the face - but don't know how you would do it.
August 30th, 2015  
Great selfie Maggiemae , the light is certainly great on the hair -- well done you !
August 30th, 2015  
Nice processing and an impressive selfie. How did you get your profile and that pretty light on your hair? Also, how do you make Oakhill potatoes?
August 30th, 2015  
Lovely portrait Maggiemae! I like the light on your hair. Lovely wave too! I always hate shots I take of myself!
August 30th, 2015  
Looks great. I like the profile POV.
August 31st, 2015  
I love the light on, and the waves in, your hair! I like the profile too. No suggestions to make, as my occasional portraits are all completely informal.
August 31st, 2015  
@skstein You sit sideways to the camera - light from one side for the hair - but not enough contrast for the face, I think. Oak hill potatoes - cooked potatoes, leeks, ham cubes - pour cheese sauce over and cook for 45 mins at 175dg. The recipe has toasted crumbs on top too but I don't do that!
August 31st, 2015  
I think there is some great light on your hair! so jealous that yours waves so nicely all on its own!
August 31st, 2015  
Love the way the light highlights the waves in your hair. Nice processing too!
August 31st, 2015  
no help on lighting, but nice portrait of you.
August 31st, 2015  
It's more than I would do- I do not like selfies- or pictures of me by others for that matter! LOL As for the curls, my grandmother always said the waves and curls that each of us had came from the Hamilton side- "Hamilton curls" and two of my older son's children had them as well but neither of my boys did.
August 31st, 2015  
@olivetreeann What fun to think of that side! Both my sisters had very straight hair!
August 31st, 2015  
@maggiemae thanks for recipe. I love potatoes.
August 31st, 2015  
Well done! Nice light on your pretty wavy curls.
August 31st, 2015  
very brave shot and clever thinking
August 31st, 2015  
This is a gorgeous self portrait to me. The lighting is perfect on the wavy curls. I am not a portrait photographer for sure and I do not have anybody ready to pose for me either.
August 31st, 2015  
@sangwann Thank you Dione - I don't have studio with bare walls and lighting to put in all the right places so can't really expect what I am trying to do. But its a learning experience!
August 31st, 2015  
This is so clever Maggie. I really like the lighting and the processing. You need curly hair to pick up the highlights. This is me speaking as a life long member of the curly hair brigade. Fav
August 31st, 2015  
Very nice shot. I find portraits quite hard - so difficult to get the lighting right.
August 31st, 2015  
I think the lighting is perfect on your hair, and I just love your natural curls! I hate blowdrying my hair, but I know what you mean about it getting frizzy the next day. I had been thinking of taking a studio lighting class, but then I would need all that lighting equipment....
August 31st, 2015  
Lovely portrait and framing, very well taken indeed.
August 31st, 2015  
Lovely portrait of you Maggiemae. Your hair is beautifully lit. I don't do selfies so my moniker is blank. Someday I'll get a photo takem
N and put itin
August 31st, 2015  
I think this's a wonderful portrait - I am completely hopeless at them. I really like the processing too, Lovely detail while maintaining the softness - very well done.
August 31st, 2015  
Great pose and capture Maggie.
August 31st, 2015  
I like the lighting, really cool selfie. You have created an ethereal quality. Selfies are something that you either like or hate, I fall into the latter group! That spud dish sounds excellent.
August 31st, 2015  
very soulful maggie, nice hair too :)
August 31st, 2015  
I really like this one
August 31st, 2015  
love the hair and i've always been jealous of women with naturally curly hair. of my five siblings, four have curly and wavy hair which they got from our mother. but my sister has hair worse than mine, you could use a strand for a skewer. at least my straight hair is soft!
September 2nd, 2015  
@summerfield I think most hair is soft unless you use thickening agents like flour!
September 2nd, 2015  
Portraits are so tough. Well done here and I definitely see the lighting on your hair. Beautiful.
September 3rd, 2015  
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