Self portrait...HELP!!!

[AllyKat22]

Hi!! Im new on here but i was looking for some help, i normally am in to digital photography (since i got my brand new Nikon D300) but i signed up for a photography class at my college, our assignment is to take self portraits, normally i am ok with most of our assignments but i hate pictures of myself and im not sure how to make sure im focused and capturing what i want, since it all has to be manual and with no help... any one have any suggestions as to how i should go about doing this?!

and any ideas how to get unique self portraits... my professor is all into nude photos but im not sure im up to that yet, but i want to do something that will make him impressed with my different outlook on a self portrait, yet im totally lost as to what i should do!!!

HELP!!!!

 

[brileyphotog]

It would help if we knew what lenses you had...if you had any lights, etc.

If your professor is pushing nude self-portraiture on you guys that is a little creepy.

Question: Why is somebody with a D300 taking a college photo class? You're either a decent photographer or crazy rich to warrant buying a camera like that.

 

[AllyKat22]

It would help if we knew what lenses you had...if you had any lights, etc.

If your professor is pushing nude self-portraiture on you guys that is a little creepy.

Question: Why is somebody with a D300 taking a college photo class? You're either a decent photographer or crazy rich to warrant buying a camera like that.

The film camera i am using is a Canon AE-1 Program.. with a 50mm lens.. the only thing i have is a tripod, no lights or flash ..

yes my professor is nuts, he wants to show us nude pictures of himself at the end of the semester.. totally considering skipping that class...

and no im not crazy, i have been taking pictures for as long as i can remember, i have to take the basic class at college so i can get into the more advanced classes, stupid rules but whatever, photography is my minor in college but i do a lot of free lance for my school district when i am home from college and im trying to build up a portfolio, having the camera is just a plus for me it was a gift from my grandparents.. gotta love them!

 

[brileyphotog]

Massive props then, I wish I had grandparents who are that cool.

So you have to shoot film eh? I do love the Canon AE program cameras (that's what I learned on). With the 50mm lens you can do the fun hold the camera at arms length and take pictures of yourself. Use a little bit smaller aperture (to make sure you're in focus) and guesstimate the length of your arm and focus the camera to something that far away. Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition (I bought it for the articles ) had a cool layout where they gave all the models cameras and had them do self portraits. You might get some ideas from that.

Your professor sounds like a ped...creeper

 

[Battou]

If you are using the AE-1 you will need to use the self timer however for focusing you will need to put an object where you will be standing and focus on that.


I do have a rather cookie suggestion for something I have been meaning to try.


OK, Hang the camera around your neck, lean on a door frame opposit a mirror, take your tripod and set it up to where it holds the camera exactly where it would hang from your neck. Wile the camera is on the tripod hold your hand up and focus on it in the mirror. Once focused stand up and remove the tripod (and conciel it somehow) set the self timer pose and then you have a mirror portrait that looks natural (As opposed to the classic camera infront of dome peice ones).

And if you want you could print the negitive backwards so any text on the camera and cloths is properly ledgable.

I have not tried this yet so I can't garentee it'll work perfectly but....

 

[brileyphotog]

OK, Hang the camera around your neck, lean on a door frame opposit a mirror, take your tripod and set it up to where it holds the camera exactly where it would hang from your neck. Wile the camera is on the tripod hold your hand up and focus on it in the mirror. Once focused stand up and remove the tripod (and conciel it somehow) set the self timer pose and then you have a mirror portrait that looks natural.

Are you saying to do the self portrait with the camera hanging from your neck? That's an awesome idea! The only potential problem I can see is the camera not hanging straight due to imbalance or (ahem) female anatomy issues.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

The film camera i am using is a Canon AE-1 Program.. with a 50mm lens.. the only thing i have is a tripod, no lights or flash ..

So use window light!

yes my professor is nuts, he wants to show us nude pictures of himself at the end of the semester.. totally considering skipping that class...

oh puhleeeaase.... Don't be so prude. Alot of people are into nudes, up on the walls just last week here at PNCA, we had a 20 image series of a guy who had a sex change spreading his 'vagina' and grabbing his breasts... Yes, he was naked for all 20 some-odd images. Who cares if he's into the whole nude thing, lots of people are. And hey, they might not be that bad.

 

[Battou]

Are you saying to do the self portrait with the camera hanging from your neck? That's an awesome idea! The only potential problem I can see is the camera not hanging straight due to imbalance or (ahem) female anatomy issues.

My being a guy I had not thought of that :mrgreen: and yeah even the 50mm creates a slight forward tilt.

*EDIT* Question is witch 50mm lens is it? there where two available the 1.8 SC and the 1.4 SSC, the 1.8 is a shorter lens than the 1.4.*END EDIT*

Overall the idea came from another self portrait I did some time ago. Different means of achievement but it got me thinking about how to accomplish a good self portrait with my manual glass, What I posted is what I came up with.

 

[AllyKat22]

oh puhleeeaase.... Don't be so prude. Alot of people are into nudes, up on the walls just last week here at PNCA, we had a 20 image series of a guy who had a sex change spreading his 'vagina' and grabbing his breasts... Yes, he was naked for all 20 some-odd images. Who cares if he's into the whole nude thing, lots of people are. And hey, they might not be that bad.

oh no its not that im prude at all... believe me.. its just hes about 70 and hes totally weird.. the pics he told us were from a year ago.. he wanted them when he was 69.. idk something about that CREEPS ME OUT! i dont have an issue with nudes at all, its just him that creeps me out!

 

[brileyphotog]

I'm totally down with nudes as well - of even moderately attractive people, that is (read: not the average professor, at least at my college).

Also, I would question the artistic value of a transsexual in pornographic poses.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

Also, I would question the artistic value of a transsexual in pornographic poses.

Could you elaborate?

 

[brileyphotog]

It's not really worth it to elaborate...to clarify its not the transsexual person I have a problem with, but with the porn as art. There was an enormous thread on just this topic up a few days ago so I'm not restarting it here.

 

[Digital Matt]

Position the tripod with the camera on it relative to the position you will be standing. Frame the shot. Remove the camera from the tripod and walk to the spot where you will be standing. Drop a coin on the floor. Stand on it, and focus the camera on the tripod. Now return the camera to the tripod, and stand on the coin. The self timer should allow you enough time to return to your position. Strike a pose.

 

[Sw1tchFX]

It's not really worth it to elaborate...to clarify its not the transsexual person I have a problem with, but with the porn as art. There was an enormous thread on just this topic up a few days ago so I'm not restarting it here.

I should have mentioned this earlier, but none of the poses were intended for sexual pleasure. Just because it might be spreading its vagina, doesn't mean its moaning and groaning and has its legs up in the air.

They were more for descriptive purposes.

 

[brileyphotog]

Ahhh...that does make something of a difference.