Capture This Photography
Me Myself and I
Posted by Laurie (New Jersey, United States) on 13 October 2008 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
Ugh! I cannot believe I actually posted this...I should have taken it down and done something different. The more I look at it the more I think it's just too ummm...contrived. But oh well what is done is done.
Yes, that is me. Finally a self portrait that I am willing to post. Some of you may have already seen this since I posted it as my "about me" photo almost 2 weeks ago.
I do not like having my picture taken. I really don't. So you can imagine how difficult it was for me to finally get a self portrait I am satisfied with. It is pretty hard to judge everything for a self portrait. My cable release was too short, I didn't have the right connector to connect my pocket wizards for triggering the camera and flash, only the flashes (another gadget to add to the ever growing list). Setting up the lighting so that it hits you the way you want it to is difficult at best, particularly the hair light. But after several frustrating tries I think I achieved satisfactory lighting under the circumstances. And then of course there is the pose...ugh! That was by far the worst part of it since I couldnt "preview" the pose in the viewfinder, and I am not comfortable posing. Of course my hair was not quite so mussed when I started this thing. Most came out pretty bad and goofy and were immediately deleted before they could get into the wrong hands, namely my kids, who would likely use the failed images as a way to blackmail me. I am not totally happy with the pose but all things considered I'm ok with this one. I hope you like it.
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I post the same photos here as on Capturethisphotography.com but they are higher res. and landscape orientation shots are larger size.
I post only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
rem_la from Villiers, France
elle fait de belles photos......et en plus elle est mignone ..........
13 Oct 2008 5:38am
@rem_la: Thanks.
Stunner from Kingston, Jamaica
A wonderful self portrait and finally we get to see the beauty behind the lens! the lighting is great too!
13 Oct 2008 6:24am
@Stunner: Awww...Thanks.
@Vink: Thanks.
dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States
wow -- i think this is beautifully done!! this is superb -- and as you say, self portraits are very hard indeed! ;) but the look in your eyes is sincere and the is a glimmer of magic! lighting is splendidly soft and the detail is excellent! gorgeous work Laurie! bravo!!
13 Oct 2008 6:43am
@dj.tigersprout: Thanks.
@Ana Lúcia: Thanks.
@roland: Thanks.
@Veronelle: Thanks.
GJC from Kyoto, Japan
I sometimes think that photography is about courage -- taking chances with our own artistic vision, tinkering and trying something that feels just a little strange. So I applaud not only the result behind this photo, which is quite good, but also the spirit that led you to take and to post it. Thanks for sharing.
13 Oct 2008 12:20pm
@GJC: Thanks. That statement means a lot to me.
Mabo from Amriswil, Switzerland
congratulations!
all or most of your pictures are very nice.
your portrait are wonderful :-)
13 Oct 2008 12:25pm
@Mabo: Thanks.
Arash from Dubai, United Arab Emirates
I'm agree with you that self portrait is always difficult, but you did it very well, I don't know why you have a bad feeling!(as you wrote).
the lighting is pretty good and the eyes and hairs also nice, it's a super beautiful portrait, maybe if you find it as a different person in another photoblog you write the same comment there ;)
13 Oct 2008 12:32pm
@Arash: Thanks.
@Illuci: Thanks.
dogilicious from Millerstown, PA, United States
Nice portrait. Your description led me to your "about" page. I am also a big fan of "A walk through Dunham township." Are you also in PA?
13 Oct 2008 1:35pm
@dogilicious: Thanks. I'm not in PA but I am not too far in East Central NJ. I have family in PA, near Doylestown and I just really love PA.
Anita from West Nottingham, United States
Laurie: I admire and applaud your courage in taking and posting your self-portrait. It is great to see what you look like (gorgeous). The lighting is beautifully soft and flattering. I love the gleaming hair. I like the curve of the chair you are leaning on. Thanks.
13 Oct 2008 1:49pm
@Anita: Thanks.
@Cia: Thanks.
Kelela from Upland, United States
Well now; this is a gorgeous self-portrait. LOL, I think you are much too hard on yourself. I hope to be so daring to do the same thing one day. You done good!
13 Oct 2008 3:55pm
@Kelela: Thanks. You should go for it.
@Alun Lambert: Thanks.
Sergei Z from Turi, Estonia
Gorgeous self-portrait! I finally can see who is behind all those comments what I've got from you! Thank you!
13 Oct 2008 4:18pm
@Sergei Z: Thanks.
dobbino from Cape Town, South Africa
Great shot, Laurie. I did see this on your "about" page - testing the waters before finally posting on the main page, were you??? Anyway, it's turned out great - now for the next one?
13 Oct 2008 4:36pm
@dobbino: Thanks. That was kind of the idea. At first I thought I would just post it there and not as a regular post but I thought might as well post it. I had pre-posted it a few days ago and almost took it down a few times even right up until the hour before it would have posted here, but I realized that it was too late because it already posted on my other site.
MadScientist from Düsseldorf, Germany
No reasons for having a bad feeling here, everything's wonderful! :-)
13 Oct 2008 5:42pm
@MadScientist: Thanks.
jamesy from christchurch, New Zealand
It is absolutely beautiful Laurie I don't know what you are worried about. I think we are our own worst critics Congratulation on having 'fisheye football' in the spotlight
13 Oct 2008 7:30pm
@jamesy: Thanks.
Nina from Hamburg, Germany
Hi Laurie, an excellent picture of yourself, nice to meet you also!
13 Oct 2008 7:52pm
@Nina: Thanks.
Jasp from Plymouth, United Kingdom
Always best to be brave ... publish and be damned as someone once said. That is a pretty sultry look you have there Laurie ! ... better be careful what I say as your "other half" may be reading :-). I find self portrait's tricky things as well...is it how you see yourself or how you think others may see you ? You could start off a trend !
13 Oct 2008 7:59pm
@Jasp: Thanks...you are very kind. I'm not sure why so many people including me feel that way. The resulting sultry look was not exactly what I had intended, it is what I got though. I guess I didn't realize it would come across that way. But given how goofy and dorky most of the others looked, I chose to go with this one.
My Husband told me the other day that he was surprised what people wrote about the portraits of him that I put up...lol. He said I'd better watch out for his fan club...lol. I told him it was a risk I had to take.
Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States
Hello lovely Laurie. Your self-portrait reveals a bright, sensitive person who has very pretty eyes and hair, nice skin, nerves of steel (to take a battery of self-portraits and risk feeling dumb), and excellent photography skills. I salute you for this very nice photo you've chosen from the lot of 'em. Be kind to yourself, your portrait is lovely. But probably not as lovely as you no doubt are in person.
13 Oct 2008 8:21pm
@Viewfinder: Awww...Thanks. That is so nice of you to say.
danthro from Suburbia, United States
Nice to meet you! and nice self-portrait. definitely takes courage to post one. i have a few self-portraits--of my shadow ;)
13 Oct 2008 8:24pm
@danthro: Thanks.
Rabbit from Richmond, United States
awww - your very pretty. The lighting looks so nice & intimate as well as your pose. I understand what you mean bout not knowing what you look like as far as a pose goes. Something I like to do is if you have it - is to use the self timer. Sometimes when you race back to position it can help make you look and feel fresh. One other trick is to attack a hand held mirror to the camera. This can give you an idea of at least the position of your head & expression.
You may not like photos of yourself simply because you feel awkward (relax girl you can always delete it). I like to giggle alot when my sweetheart is CONSTANTLY taking photos of me- so that it gives me a more natural smile too.
13 Oct 2008 9:06pm
@Rabbit: Thanks. I wanted to use my pocket wizards but I didn't have the right connector to trigger the camera and flashes. So I tried using the self timer but the focus was messed up. I have a cable release which has a pretty short cable so what I ended up doing was using the self timer and the cable release so that I could get better focus using the auto focus. I had to keep my head at the right place and reach my one arm forward with the cable release then hit the button and drop the cable release so I could bring my arm back down so it would not be out in front of me.
amy from Nanaimo, BC, Canada
Always the toughest gig when we're in front of the camera. I think you did an absolutely fantastic job. Your lighting is perfect... wish I had that lighting all the time LOL! And let's face it, trying not to have a posed look when posing for a self portrait is... well, nigh on impossible. Having said all that; this is really a very good self portrait.
13 Oct 2008 9:30pm
@amy: Thanks.
JJ from Jersey City, United States
I think its a great self portrait, something I avoid doing with maximum effort avoiding ever being in front of a camera
13 Oct 2008 11:10pm
@JJ: Thanks. That is my philosophy as well but sometimes you just have to suck it up and do it.
Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia
Self portraits are very hard to do, but you have done this very well Larie, great light and skin tone, I like your composition, a great image!
13 Oct 2008 11:35pm
@Kylie Greenan: Thanks.
Jeffster from Long Island, United States
Laurie - this is a wonderful self portrait. The lighting is really nice. The hairlight is nice. I like the little rim light on the back of your head which seperates you from the background. The "catchlights" in your eyes are very nice, and the light on your skin is soft. Relax...you look like a million $$$.
13 Oct 2008 11:39pm
@Jeffster: Thanks. Getting the hair light in the right place or rather me under it in the right position was pretty tough. I got shadows where I didn't want them and struggled with that for a while. I still ended up with a little shadow on my arm/shoulder which I assume is from my hair. I probably could have brushed it out in Photoshop but I use it as a reminder so that I will focus the hairlight a little better next time, if there ever is one that is.
Jen from Alpharetta, United States
Excellent portrait Laurie!
You are a beautiful woman, but I completely understand about the whole self-portrait thing, every picture I've ever had taken I find flaws with...much more comfortable behind the camera than in front!
13 Oct 2008 11:46pm
@Jen: Thanks.
Betsy Barron from Glenmoore, United States
beautiful! I know exactly how you feel - did you have a Yuengling first?? :)
14 Oct 2008 1:18am
@Betsy Barron: Thanks...hmmm now that could have made things interesting!!! lol.
Michael Rawluk from Williams Lake, BC, Canada
You look lovely. I tried self-portraits and frightened myself.
14 Oct 2008 1:41am
@Michael Rawluk: Thanks...lol, I'm sure you are being too hard on yourself.
Barbara from Florida, United States
Outstanding self portrait, Laurie. It is a stunning image of you with exceptional light.
Yours eyes are captivating.
You did it... and we are pleased you did.
I feel GJC said it the best.
14 Oct 2008 4:30am
@Barbara: Thanks.
@Zing: Thanks.
@Saeed: Thanks.
@Pouhou: Thanks.
@Doum: Thanks.
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
Alway's difficult self-portraits, and they hardly ever please. I usually do self portraits without my head.
Very nice shot Laurie.
15 Oct 2008 1:26am
@Observing: Thanks.
Elisa from Massachusetts, United States
hey Laurie, nice to meet you! you're pretty! :) I can understand how hard it could be to take a self-portrait but you did it great! good job!
15 Oct 2008 1:28am
@Elisa: Thanks.
akarui from Kagoshima, Japan
It must be difficult to take a self portrait... You have done it quite well, the soft lightning is good. May be an horizontal format would been easier by including more of your arm and all your hand. You could try to crop the bottom of the actual image just a little and then more until you remove all the orange furniture (?) and see if you like it better this way. Well done anyway.
15 Oct 2008 4:00am
@akarui: Thanks.
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
What a beautiful portrait Laurie! First off, it's nice that you posted this as I know how difficult it is to put oneself out there. You are so pretty, amazing eyes...really a wonderful portrait :)
Bravo!
15 Oct 2008 4:13am
@bluechameleon: Thanks.
Ron from Saint Louis, United States
Well ... you certainly did get a lot of feedback ... and much of it very good feedback. The lighting is beautiful, it is a very lovely pose and you look beautiful. You're just not used to seeing yourself in this way ... but I do think it works well!
15 Oct 2008 5:17pm
@Ron: Thanks.
Eye Spy from Menorca, Spain
Nice to see you! great compo & most adequate light. Very brave too...! Congrats!
16 Oct 2008 8:33am
@Eye Spy: Thanks.
Double KK Photography from West Richland, United States
I am like you I don't like to have my picture taken either but this is a beautiful self portrait you did a great job
17 Oct 2008 4:56pm
Andrew Gould from Sydney, Australia
This is a charming self portrait, Laurie! Love the composition, and feel that this is excellent technically, too. You are very photogenic!
19 Oct 2008 5:30am
Kent from Kvänum, Sweden
Very beautiful portrait of an incredibly beautiful woman.
19 Oct 2008 8:04am
NANNE from Netherlands
I like this photo. A great portrait. Is it a photo of yours?
Greetings and a nice sunday,
NANNE from Friesland
19 Oct 2008 9:48am
NANNE from Netherlands
Stuppid of me...,
now I see that's a selfportrait...!
But a very nice photo.
Sorry, Nanne from Friesland
19 Oct 2008 9:51am
Rabbit from Richmond, United States
wow - the combination of self-timer & cable release... Yes the focus - totally understand. My camera also likes to try & focus at the beginning of the self timer (which your are so correct if your subject isn't there then what the heck is it gonna focus on???) Usually then I try & stick a teddybear or some other object in the place so i can shove it out of the way when i'm ready.
It is quite the balancing act sometimes to get a good self-portrait. I think you did a wonderful job - just think with practice you can get better at taking self-portraits (i know the thought of taking more pictures of yourself has probably sent you running)
23 Oct 2008 5:21pm
Nikon D200
1/250 second
F/5.6
ISO 100
42 mm