Its just me

J.russell

What was I thinking???
I have been on this board for a while now but been into photography alot longer than reefing. I do photography part time basically to help expand my gear bag.

Any pictures I take of my builds or tank are quick snapshots my biggest love is portraits. I do weddings here and there and shoot a few state pageants before they move on to the Miss USA pageant.

Just thought it would be good to post a self portrait and stop in to say hi :)

3196609657_242aa40989_b.jpg
 
I love the portrait. I'm actually trying to learn portrait photography myself. Man it is difficult. I started with and mainly shoot sports which I believe is much easier.

I'd love to see more of your work. Do you have a website or do you post on any photography forums?
 
Nice blog. A few images that I really liked. You can link it too your "red house". I must admit though that I don't remember exactly how I set that up here. Sure it's in the user settings or profile info somewhere.
 
Yea I should do that since my build thread want much of a build thread just a tank switching thread haha
 
Nice to put a face to the name.

So did you self shoot that or have someone else work the camera? I've taken a couple pictures of me and the wife using the camera timer, but that is about it.
 
I had the camera hooked to the computer with LR open using EOS utlilty to control the camera. That way I got to see the shot right away and decide if I need to take more haha.

I shoot tethered alot when shooting buildings or landscapes for clients. Makes seeing the picture alot better than chimping on the little lcd on my 5D's.
 
thanks for sharing your self-portrait and blog- awesome images and content!
I really appreciated your comment on your girlfriend's graduation achievement- about how anything is within reach, if we will just strive for it.
 
Very nice. The composition bothers me a bit 'cuz I don't see your left ear, but that's my problem. I was taught to not cut off primary subject's body parts but like I said, it's my problem.

Was it hard for you to shoot yourself? Sometimes I don't like looking at pictures of myself.

I like the tonality. Did you add the circular vignette in post processing or was that a lighting effect?

The shot is emotive - I get a sense of unsureness, or like you are reacting to something with which you are not comfortable. I want to pull your hand down and put my hand on your shoulder reassuringly. Probably the dad in me. Good job triggering those feelings.

The backwards hat, t-shirt, relatively recent facial hair growth and tentative expression create an immaturity or boy not man thing for me. Don't know if that was intentional. If you were smiling confidently and not hiding behind your hand, that wouldn't be but the shot would also feel entirely different.

Do you find benefits to shooting tethered other than your laptop's display being bigger and better than that on your camera? I can shoot tethered with my 50D, but it's got an awesome display and I'm not sure that the hassle of adding my laptop to my shooting is worth it.

Thanks for your contributions.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14159442#post14159442 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by klepto
thanks for sharing your self-portrait and blog- awesome images and content!
I really appreciated your comment on your girlfriend's graduation achievement- about how anything is within reach, if we will just strive for it.

Thank you very much for the comments and taking the time to read my blog. Im very proud of her and know she will do many great things in life

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14160131#post14160131 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reef Bass
Very nice. The composition bothers me a bit 'cuz I don't see your left ear, but that's my problem. I was taught to not cut off primary subject's body parts but like I said, it's my problem.

Was it hard for you to shoot yourself? Sometimes I don't like looking at pictures of myself.

I like the tonality. Did you add the circular vignette in post processing or was that a lighting effect?

The shot is emotive - I get a sense of unsureness, or like you are reacting to something with which you are not comfortable. I want to pull your hand down and put my hand on your shoulder reassuringly. Probably the dad in me. Good job triggering those feelings.

The backwards hat, t-shirt, relatively recent facial hair growth and tentative expression create an immaturity or boy not man thing for me. Don't know if that was intentional. If you were smiling confidently and not hiding behind your hand, that wouldn't be but the shot would also feel entirely different.

Do you find benefits to shooting tethered other than your laptop's display being bigger and better than that on your camera? I can shoot tethered with my 50D, but it's got an awesome display and I'm not sure that the hassle of adding my laptop to my shooting is worth it.

Thanks for your contributions.

Your first 2 statements are right on. I didnt want my ear cut off either but at the same time, I am my own worst critic and hate being infront of a camera. It was the best shot I got . I was happy with the overall look and wasnt about to redo it haha.

The vignette was added in post. I only used LR for this one. The whole edit is one of the presets.

Im only 26 so I still an a boy in some sence but also have a 5 year old of my own so I think being a kid at heart really plays into that role :)

I have had alot on my mind the past week and I didnt intend for it to show through in the photo but after looking back at the shot I guess it really does.

As for shooting tethered, I usually ony do it when time allows such as buildings and ladscapes and such. That way I can zoom right in and see if I am cliping any highlights or shadows, to make sure the shot is nice and crisp or if I want to try a quick edit to make sure my settings are giving me the look Im going for.

You should def try it alteast once. If youre using a 50D all you need is the software that came with the camera. I use EOS Utility to control the camera LR to review the capture.

If you need help setting it up just let me know Ill be more than willing to lend a hand.

When I first took a picture of my son, and he saw himself on the computer he busted out laughing. Made the rest of the shoot very easy ;) Its a big help with kids.

~Jason
 
Thanks for your honest and complete responses! Please don't let my questions or comments detract from the beauty of the shot. That's a quality portrait.

Not that it matters, but after exploring my discomfort with your "missing" ear, I believe you were right to do so. If there were more detail or light on the right it would lessen the strength of the overall form there by defining it too clearly.

Your general composition by "rule of thirds" works well here too.

I should shoot myself just to get over my discomfort with it. Maybe while shooting tethered so I'll have something to focus on besides my self consciousness. I can see where a larger display would be useful for checking details in areas of the shot while shooting.

Good job discovering a way to induce a lasting smile on your son's face while shooting him. I've noticed my kids want to look at the display on the back of camera after just about every shot.

And yes, IMHO, being a kid at heart is important at any age. :p

Ken
 
Thanks Ken. I welcome all comments good or bad and everything inbetween. I dont ever want to stop learning and you never know just who might teach you something new.

And yes by all means take a few self portraits. One is bound to come out good :)

There is a saying that I always remember,
Poor photographers follow all the rules... good photographers follow some rules... great photographers break the rules!

Dont be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Thats just what I did yesterday and it worked out pretty good.

And here is my son. Its also on my blog though

IMG_0054.jpg
 
Ah, but that why it's called a COMFORT zone, 'cuz it's so comfortable...

You're absolutely right. Must stretch self and be ok with occasional discomfort. Some good lessons can be learned that way.

Great eyes! The tight DOF really emphasizes them.
 
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It is fine to break the rules as long as you can get away with it. Of course you have to know and thoroughly understand the rules before you can hope to break them. Otherwise your just wildly and randomly getting no where.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14162187#post14162187 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TitusvileSurfer
It is fine to break the rules as long as you can get away with it. Of course you have to know and thoroughly understand the rules before you can hope to break them. Otherwise your just wildly and randomly getting no where.

this is exactly what a mentor of mine passed on to me. Learn the proper way... then find what works for you- even if it means breaking some rules..
 
Sage advice.

I put my 50D with 100mm macro lens on a tripod a short USB cable away from my computer, fired up the EOS utility and played with remote shooting. It was fun. Remote Live View is cool, though one still obviously has to focus at the camera. I turned the AF back on and used the Test Shooting window. Not real time but useful. I can see where using the test shooting window while remote shooting would lead to many fewer "not so good" shots clogging up hard drives.

Then I spun the camera lens around and pointed it at myself. Gasp! Keep in mind this was impromptu and unprepared for. And that the framing and composition is determined by the short USB cable! I even cut off my ear just for kicks.

self61s.jpg


Then I looked at the camera and clicked the mouse.

self815s.jpg


Withdrawing back within the borders of my comfort zone now.
 
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