Self Portrait Suggestions?

[RxForB3]

I went on a "mountain bike" ride today and figured it was a chance to do something I rarely do...get in front of the camera. I realize it was the wrong time of day for this. Other than that, which of these do you like best (do the sunglasses seem a bit affected)? What could I/should I have done different? I had a wide-angle lens I considered using, but wasn't sure I'd like the result. I had hoped to use my remote trigger, but I couldn't get it to work that far away, so I used the timer. I assume some flash might have helped, but that would have taken some significant effort to set up, and was frankly in a bit of a hurry. Would have been a bit embarassed if someone had come up the trail to see me taking a picture of myself


IMG_1745 by RxForB3, on Flickr


IMG_1739 by RxForB3, on Flickr

 

[Big Mike]

The biggest issue, IMO, is that your face is very underexposed...so yes, flash would have helped (provided you were close enough and/or had a powerful enough flash). Simply exposing for you face would have overexposed the background, so that's a choice you have to make in a situation like this.

 

[RxForB3]

Hm, I see what you mean. Unfortunately the sun was creating some pretty significant shadows on my face. I tried to find a better location that was in a more shaded canyon, but the pictures there really didn't turn out too well.

Portraits really aren't my forte. As far as "pose" goes, is the stance appropriate? Would a wide angle placed closer to me have been a better choice? I suppose I could have used my 50mm 1.8, but you know what they say about hindsight

 

[2WheelPhoto]

You may drop a few pounds if you turn sideways instead of flat on, not that you need to just sayn... people usually look bigger straight on.

 

[RxForB3]

Heh, well I'm working on actually losing weight, so for now that's a very helpful hint. I'm assuming you mean just angle slightly sideways?

 

[2WheelPhoto]

yes sir, sideways to the camera

 

[Studio7Four]

As you said, it was a tough time of day for shooting. All things considered I think you did well, even down to composing so that the ridgeline doesn't cut through your head. The two suggestions I have are:

- Leave a little more space around the bike's wheels. There's decent space under the bike in the second shot, though not in the first, and in both shots the bike's wheels are too close to the sides of the frame. This tightness contradicts the headroom left in these shots and the open feel of the outdoor scene. I think you probably could have shot these in landscape orientation (Gasp! A horizontal portrait!). Letting you fill the frame vertically rather than letting the bike fill the frame horizontally would make you seem more like the subject of the shot.

- I realize you wanted to leave the bike standing while you set the timer and ran back to position, but next time you try this kick the kickstand up when you get in position. With your hands on the handlebars and seat, having the kickstand down is superfluous. It's not that it's a detail likely to be observed by many (though it does break up the brighter sunlit ground between your feet, so it is a somewhat noticeable detail), it's just one of those fixes that can help bring a shot to the next level.

 

[kundalini]

Football shoulders, that's what your pose is called. Rarely is it flattering. Try placing one foot in front of the other and place your weight on the rearward heel. This will naturally cause your shoulders to create an angle (read more dynamic). Consider having the bike at a slight angle from the lens also. Big Mike commented on the exposure and possible remedy and I do agree.

 

[RxForB3]

Wow, sounds like great suggestions. I may have to give this another go sometime. I agree completely with the close crop on the bicycle and also about the kickstand (actually, I realized it, too, when I got home and looked at the results). Next time I think I'll use my intervalometer so I have a bit longer to get set.

If I were to angle the bike, I assume it would be better to angle the bike so the front wheel is pointed more toward the camera, but still parallel to my body?