First attempt at self-portrait...

[KenC]

One trick I used a couple of times is to sit in the pose you want with the camera in your hands. Being careful to keep your head where it would be in the picture, i.e., don't lean forward into the camera, focus manually on the threaded post on your tripod head where the camera will go. Obviously the focus can still be a little off using this method, but I don't know anything better. Using someone else as suggested above may be as good if you can get them to mimic your pose (and they don't have a bigger head than you).

 

[yerlem]

uhhh thanks KenC, I like that advice! Not that having someone help me wouldn't be ideal, but I prefer working alone, I'm kind of shy about it

thanks, people, you are really helpful!

 

[amolitor]

Yes, a smaller aperture would help. I think I usually shoot around f/8 to f/11 when I am doing this kind of thing.

Then:

- don't move your focus object until you absolutely have to
- use a mark on the floor for reference (put a piece of tape on the floor, or just put your coffee cup down EXACTLY under where the point of focus is)
- take a lot of photographs, moving around slightly, and checking yourself against your floor mark every time
- practice!

 

[MK3Brent]

uhhh thanks KenC, I like that advice! Not that having someone help me wouldn't be ideal, but I prefer working alone, I'm kind of shy about it

thanks, people, you are really helpful!

This is with a D3100, yes?

 

[yerlem]

uhhh thanks KenC, I like that advice! Not that having someone help me wouldn't be ideal, but I prefer working alone, I'm kind of shy about it

thanks, people, you are really helpful!

This is with a D3100, yes?

indeed. why?

 

[MK3Brent]

uhhh thanks KenC, I like that advice! Not that having someone help me wouldn't be ideal, but I prefer working alone, I'm kind of shy about it

thanks, people, you are really helpful!

This is with a D3100, yes?

indeed. why?

Just wanted to confirm, a very useful tool on some cameras is a "Interval Shooting" program. It auto-focuses before taking a photo. Unfortunately, the 3100 doesn't have this feature. .

 

[topazsol]

I see nothing wrong with these, beautiful self portraits!