Photographer: myself
I have started my self portraits project at last. I was at the studio of photographer DG yesterday afternoon and did a whole shoot with one of his cameras, using a remote. I could not have done it without his patient input and help with setting up. So much to learn!
I went through a number of simple poses, nothing too inventive it was just a way of saying hello to the camera and see how we got on. Taking one's own portraits is very different from modelling for another person, unless you truly know the photographer well and are fully involved in the shoot as a collaborator.
But no, actually. It is not the same. Because on a shoot with another you dont have to worry about technical details and you do get feedback on how you look, whether your limbs are out of frame, that kind of thing. I found the remote a little difficult to live with. Do I show it? Do I hide it? I kept on changing my mind.
Many shots were awkward, I was worried and it showed. But I loved the process and am dying to do it again. Modelling for yourself is like acting and being your own director simultaneously. Exciting.
I am also practising editing with various editing softwares. Editing or postprocessing are an essential part of photography. It is the thing over which I have always longed to have control because sometimes I disagree with the editing choices of the photographers I work with. It is something I really want to master.
And it is something I truly find immensely relaxing. These days, I often pull out a photograph while having a break from other work and immediately begin to edit. I am fortunate to have loads of unedited pictures from shoots I did and am using them to practise. By this time next year...
Note - I may not be so regular in writing this blog as I have a few deadlines coming up. But keep on checking
Is it possible to use a combination of remote and timer? That would give you time to lose the remote.
ReplyDeleteWhen I do self-portraits, I use the camera's timer alone. The thing I hate about that is that sometimes 10 seconds is too long, and sometimes 10 seconds isn't log enough. I could re-program it, but that's just one more headache to deal with.
I think, my main problem with self portraiture is that it's hard to judge whether you're in focus, because unless you use a remote (lucky!) there's no reference for your manual focus prior to jumping into frame.
ReplyDeleteOne of the cool things about self portraits is like you said, the ability to be director and actor. In some ways, it allows you to embrace more fully a character or to see a vision done your way without having to worry about anyone else's opinion or input.
Thank you Eric and Rab. I will try and use the camera timer. I have another session booked at Hugh's studio.
ReplyDeleteThere is much to learn! but it is all very exciting.