Self portrait, focus?

[SLOShooter]

So I'm trying to take a self-portrait and I can't get the focus quite right. I'm using the timer and since I'm not in the shot when I set it up I'm just guessing on the focus. Any ideas?

So far I've thought of focusing on the backdrop and then reducing the focal plane manually by a foot or two or I thought maybe I could put something up about where I want to stand. Anyone tried this before? How'd you do it?

Camera is a D70 with 18-70mm Nikkor.

 

[Corry]

I usually place an object in the exact place I'm going to be in the shot, and focus on that. Works quite well!

 

[Big Mike]

Also, you can stop the aperture down to get more DOF...giving you a better chance of being in sharp focus. However, if you want a shallow DOF to blur the background...you will have to be more exact with your position.

You could always ask a friend or family member to focus and snap the shot.

 

[ferny]

Figure out where you will be so you know how far away you will be from the lens. Then point it at something similar. Or, put it in manual focus and take the camera over to somewhere where you can focus it on something the same distance away. If that makes sense.

 

[Alison]

I usually do the manual focus and estimate.

 

[will965]

Surly cant u just set up the camera etc on a tripod, and zoom and all that, then just use a remote lead with the camera on autofocus????

 

[Corry]

I don't know bout you, but my remote shutter thingy isn't long enough for that.

 

[Rob]

Get a friend to take the picture.

 

[voodoocat]

I focus manually and use hyperfocal distance to do self portraits.

 

[SLOShooter]

I'm thinking I'll probibly just focus on the backdrop and then set it to manual and move the focal plane a few feet closer. Shoot, adjust, repeat. I am shooting from low to high and I couldn't find anything tall enough to use as a dummy. At least not on my cursury search of the house.