Self Portraits (not mirror) how and why!

[Keith]

There's a thread running currently that's discussing the value or otherwise of mirror shots ... and as much as I and I'm sure a lot of others have done them, they have rather limited value and appeal I agree.

The true self portrait however is a different animal. You're making the decision to chose yourself as your subject and in some ways have to become slightly detached within the process and often what you finish up with may not be pleasing, and often also I supect not representational of how you actually see yourself when you look in a mirror.

The camera has a very different perspective to your own eye in this regard because it allows you to see yourself as you cannot when viewing your refelction ... you can select the perspective in regard to focal length, angle, light etc and in reality there is no difference to photographing another person. It may in fact allow you to see yourself as others see you ... something not possible in a mirror!

I'd be interested to hear other people's opinions ... why they chose to do self portraits in the first place and the surprises they encountered along the way.

[Leighgion]

The original reasons for putting myself in pictures actually was to create more of a personal context for the image. It was less about taking self-portraits so much as placing myself at a certain time and place. This was especially something I did when traveling, so that rather than just have another snapshot of popular destination, it'd at least be a snapshot of me at the popular destination.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1017/1429896897_bd75e4fb52_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leighgion/1429896897/in/set-72157594490726112/)

Much later, when I got more serious about photography, I made a conscious decision to do self portraits because I wanted practice doing people photography (which I had done very little of) and frankly, wanted to see if I could make myself look cooler than I'd looked to date in pictures. Practicing my skills with the potential by-product of improving self-esteem seemed like a win-win gamble.

Things turned out pretty well for me the very first day I took my tripod out with a mind to shoot at myself. Two of my favorite self-portraits came out of that day, and one of them surprised me with an 80's rock band look I hadn't intended.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/241/521234757_bb467ce720_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leighgion/521234757/in/set-72157594490726112/)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/205/521108303_c509b8581e_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/leighgion/521108303/in/set-72157594490726112/[/url)

Since then, I think I've come to see self portraiture as a kind of performance. The goal is to present some interesting facet of yourself, but since you're the both subject and photographer, you can only set the scene before it becomes necessary to change roles, step out of the director's chair and onto the stage to become the actor. No matter how much preparation you put in, you don't really now how the audience will perceive you until the show is over and you get the reviews.

Self-portraiture has become an enjoyable thing to me. As photographer I get a model that's exactly as patient as I am, no more no less, and while I know of course that the pictures are of me, on a certain level they're abstracted and I can look at them as if they're another person who looks a bit like me, but is more interesting.

[charjohncarter]

I agree with you, a mirror is not a self portrait it is trying out your camera in a different situation. Some don't even go digital and flip horizontally or if they are wet don't turn the negative over. No, to sit or stand in front of a self timer is a hard thing to do. I have only done it mediocre(ly) once. See my avatar. Maybe Pixtu will jump in here. He seems to be able to do it.

[Al Kaplan]

My first effort back in 1962 was mostly just to finish up with a roll of Kodachrome that I was using to try out my brand new Olympus Pen. There'd be no savings in processing cost if I didn't use all of the frames. I turned the camera around so I had back lit red and yellow autumn leaves behind me, a nice contrast with my navy blue jacket and dark brown hair.

The next attempt, maybe 6 or 7 years later, was becasuse a friend in Wyoming wanted to see pictures of my brand new darkroom. I used an M Leica with a 19mm f/3.5 Canon lens and my Leitz table-top tripod, sitting on a shelf, tripped via the self timer.

Shortly after getting the Bessa L with the 15mm Heliar a few years ago I was shooting some function or another at a park. The mayor wanted to get some pictures with Miss Black Florida with a particular background. While the three of us walked across the park together I suddenly decide to try some shots with the 15mm. It WORKED!

Since then my "environmental self-portrait" series has been an ongoing project. One of the city councilmen has a framed 11x14 of the two of us, together with a very irate constituant, hanging on the wall over his desk.

After enough rolls you get to the point where you "just KNOW" what's going to be included in the picture and from what angle. I rarely shoot more than 3 frames of a shot, and that's mostly because I'm shooting at arm's length one handed at 1/4 of a second. Don't ask me how I manage to do that...LOL

[Bob Michaels]

I have only done one and it was a class assignment. It has been on my website for years but it is not identified as a self portrait. I will have to do some more some day.

http://bobmichaels.org/misc/slides/self%20portrait.jpg

[Chris101]

Hey Bob! Are you familiar (and/or related to) Duane Michaels? This piece looks a lot like some of his stuff from the 80's.

[Al Kaplan]

You're right! It does look similar.

[dmr]

Kinda reminds me of the ending scene in 2001.

[Bob Michaels]

Hey Bob! Are you familiar (and/or related to) Duane Michaels? This piece looks a lot like some of his stuff from the 80's.

Chris: Yes, I will have to say I was a bit influenced by one of his self portraits. Some might even say my self portrait was "derivative".

He does spell his name Michals (with out the e)

[Al Kaplan]

http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com/2007/04/blog-post_08.html

[FrankS]

With a self timer:

[Migracer]

Wow Keith you do come up with some deep ones. For me it is long history of self portraits. Starting in 1960 with the black and white of me with my train and this past Summer with me in the Tbird. I cant remember if I shot with a Canon (Leica copy) or a Fujica I had both. For me it was a mater of wanting a picture and no one around to take it for me. The train was a particular challenge as I needed a spot that could hold the heavy range finder and allow me a surface to pose playing with my train. I figured out that I could use the couches back cushions to hold the camera and the seat cushions as my playing surface. This all lead to a long life of problem solving and application engineering. The more resent picture was from the need to capture the moment. After two years building the car I was taking the first trip in it to a car show. The Tbird self portrait I used a Canon Rebel 2000 with a Focal 28mm with a M42 adapter. see still solving problems I like that lens and had to make it work on the Canon.:D

[RayPA]

There's a thread running currently that's discussing the value or otherwise of mirror shots ... and as much as I and I'm sure a lot of others have done them, they have rather limited value and appeal I agree.

The true self portrait however is a different animal. You're making the decision to chose yourself as your subject and in some ways have to become slightly detached within the process and often what you finish up with may not be pleasing, and often also I supect not representational of how you actually see yourself when you look in a mirror.

The camera has a very different perspective to your own eye in this regard because it allows you to see yourself as you cannot when viewing your refelction ... you can select the perspective in regard to focal length, angle, light etc and in reality there is no difference to photographing another person. It may in fact allow you to see yourself as others see you ... something not possible in a mirror!

I'd be interested to hear other people's opinions ... why they chose to do self portraits in the first place and the surprises they encountered along the way.

"The True Self Portrait" ?? i disagree. Anytime you the photographer turn the camera towards yourself, mirror or otherwise, and make an exposure it's a "true" self portrait. it's a definitive record of you at a date, time, place. As the photographer, you choose the time, the place, the moment, and you pose for the camera, you make the decision, you press the shutter.

Often, the mirror prompts the idea, rather than the photographer planning and formalizing the "sitting," which kills the spontaneity. Some of the most over-wrought and pretentious "selfies" are the concocted arrangements designed by the photographer to "tell" about the themselves. Talk about limited appeal.



/

[bmattock]

There's a thread running currently that's discussing the value or otherwise of mirror shots ... and as much as I and I'm sure a lot of others have done them, they have rather limited value and appeal I agree.


Yes, I agree.


The true self portrait however is a different animal. You're making the decision to chose yourself as your subject and in some ways have to become slightly detached within the process and often what you finish up with may not be pleasing, and often also I supect not representational of how you actually see yourself when you look in a mirror.


Self as subject to me means self as subject. Not just slightly detached, but separate. Me as photographer and me as subject are two different beings, to the extent I can manage to do that.

As a photographer, faces are interesting to me, and when I do a portrait (which is not as often as I'd like), I like to try to show some aspect of that person's personality which appeals to me. When shooting me as subject, it is the same.

In some ways it is a clinical and unashamed examination of myself as a face, a character, and a photographic subject. In other ways, it is not that different from the way I see myself, but I tend to think that I am unencumbered with pride regarding my appearance - perhaps I am wrong, but who knows. That's too many layers of the onion than I feel like peeling back.


The camera has a very different perspective to your own eye in this regard because it allows you to see yourself as you cannot when viewing your refelction ... you can select the perspective in regard to focal length, angle, light etc and in reality there is no difference to photographing another person. It may in fact allow you to see yourself as others see you ... something not possible in a mirror!


By experimenting with light, focus, focal length, and so on, I find that I can manipulate my image to present it in a variety of ways for my own amusement.


I'd be interested to hear other people's opinions ... why they chose to do self portraits in the first place and the surprises they encountered along the way.

The main surprise for me? I had been told by close friends that speaking honestly, they first found me cold and intimidating - they didn't know when I was joking with them and thought I had a strong tendency towards violence because I speak of the violence in my past life with such a flat affect. Now I see that, especially as I age into my natural character.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2852907561_c3222d054c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wigwam/2852907561/)

From a modeling point of view, I'm my own best subject, because I have infinite patience with me and I work cheap. From a workflow point of view, it's a pain in the butt to try to get manual focus right when you're working with shallow DoF and holding a wireless remote in your hand while posing. I have found some of the old ways work best in this regard - including a marked string to measure distance to the lens.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/2951134005_8979aa9c90.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wigwam/2951134005/)

[bmattock]

Kinda reminds me of the ending scene in 2001.

Yeah, good one.

[Keith]

Bmattock ... I like that first portrait. There's a hint of menace about it that appeals to me.

Fast lenses with short depth of field are indeed a challenge for the self portrait at short range ... string works for me too! :p

Interesting response to my post.

[wray]

Well, here's one done back in '78 for an exhibit of self-portraits. That 25' air bulb cable release worked real well on an old Polaroid!

http://homepage.mac.com/rayhill2/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/PF'78.jpg

[Rico]

Handy rule-of-thumb: If you recognize the photog in the mirror as yourself, it's a self-portrait, otherwise not. :) I only started a self-portrait series (no mirrors) to learn about portraiture and studio lighting. I share Bill's observations: I'm a cheap model, and focus is a bitch. Mirror self-portraits can present intriguing effects (M.C.Escher in reflective balls), while self-portraits like those from Dalí or Rembrandt look like they're looking in a mirror (sans camera held to the eye). And how would one classify those fitting-room mirrors where you can see your own back? I guess good questions have no easy answer!

http://www.patternassociates.com/rico/photo/misc/rico9.jpg

[Keith]

I'll quite often do a self portrait when it wasn't my original intention. When I'm trying out a camera or film there's an old very small abandoned shed on the property next door that I wander off to to burn a roll. This particular day I had my Iskra with me and managed to prop it up on an old set of cupboards and used the self timer. It was stinking hot and the shed was full of mosquitos but I enjoyed the challenge of using a format I'm unfamiliar with (6x6) and a film I hadn't used previously.


http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/wheelie52/RFF%20Storage/160vc281008001bw.jpg

[ClaremontPhoto]

I wanted an avatar...

http://my-expressions.com/up_media/7454/pblog/11359/1217500881.jpg

[Pistach]

This is where the AF came handy to me. I think it was 2002.

I needed a selfportrait for my (NONPHOTOGRAPHIC) site.

I used the Maxxum 9 with 100 2,8 on tripod. I sat in front of it after framing carefully, the remote in my hand. NO SELFTIMER.
The selftimer make me nervous and prevent a relaxed expression

Behind me was a pillar which I covered with a white beach towel.

I set the on camera flash compensation at about -2.

Each time I shoot I pressed the remote halfway and I asked my significant other to advise me as soon as she could see a bright red square in the eyepiece, meaning that the AF had focused, and then pressed all the way.

No retouch in PS (except for dust). Cropping yes of course because of the design of the html page. To the horror of the purists of RFF I made a background redo using a painting of a stormy sea.

(there is another redo actually: because I have artrosys everywhere and particularly at my neck, which must be always warm, I had the collar of the aloha shirt substituted with a higher one)

[Pistach]

Forgot to say that I was in the open: in a terrace.
As I remember in shadow.
So the flash was for filling purposes.

[Rick Waldroup]

I don't find anything wrong with self-portraits using a mirror. I have shot a couple of them over the last few years, both in hotel rooms, and what I try to do is incorporate my surroundings in the shots. I find that much more interesting than just my image in a mirror. What is cool is that both of those shots were done with rangefinder cameras, which I don't own anymore- a Contax G1 and a Bessa R3A.

Other than that, I would never point a camera at myself and take a shot. I hate having my picture taken by anyone, including myself. I run if a camera is pointed at me.:eek:

[delft]

This thread made me change my avatar.
Done with a pinhole, so no focussing problems, just had to keep still for 30 seconds or so.

Greetings,
Dirk

[ducttape]

I agree, a picture of ones self in a mirror is a self portrait, but unless you always see yourself with a camera, it probably isn't a 'good' one. A portrait should, imo, reflect how the person is seen, or, wants to be seen.

I've noticed the explosion of portraits with tilted heads and in some cases even reaching arms to the corner of the frame. All since digitals started being bundled with phones. Seems to be an offshoot of the facebook generation.

But, being 2 generations away from there ('oh dad, you are so square') I've shot self portraits for some of the reasons mentioned above. With hindsight the best reason I think is to tie me to where I was at the moment.

Both examples here are automobile related. Both taken with rangefinders, both with very wide lenses (I have the exact specs someplace. For sure 25mm, maybe the 15mm Voigtlander, from the looks of it.)

This first is two very big guys wearing very bulky winter clothing in a MINI Cooper. We were driving the James Bay Road to Hudson Bay, October 2002.
http://www.davidrose.us/DavidWebPage/MINICooperS/HudsonsBay/28-21WeAREHavingFunYet.jpg

This second is one I really like. I've printed it and enjoy the way I've played with it in Photoshop too. It's driving down NYS Route 202 on 02/02/2002 in my BMW 2002tii. For those not familiar, there is a lot of window in a 2002. I used Photoshop to change it to more of a watercolor effect. In the final print I cut more of the roof out and made the image more rectangular.
http://davidrose.us/2002tii/1973_2002tii/SelfPortraitlighterwatercolor.JPG

David

[helenhill]

Moi......:eek:

[Migracer]

My wife has pointed this out time and time again and I noticed it in these postings. When shooting self portraits alone, we seem to need to show our serious face. When some one else is in the picture or present remind us to smile, we do. In retrospect it is amazing that Karyn was able to see through my serious face and see the smile with in.

[helenhill]

the Major thing I LOVE about Film is its very Forgiving, Subtle & Atmospheric
and sooo Important in taking Portraits / Self portraits

something Digital somewhat lacks for me

With love & Good Cheer- H

[ferider]

The only one with no mirror (or is there ? :) ) I found is

http://ferider.smugmug.com/photos/95836911_YCdce-L.jpg

Digital though :)

Roland.

[bmattock]

I was thinking about F. Holland Day - a quick Google led me to this interesting article.

NY TImes: Self-Portraits That Obscure the Self (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/05/arts/design/05self.html?ex=1325653200&en=dd242f4425f8d643&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)

[Bob Michaels]

Cindy Sherman's book "untitled movie stills" is the most creative work of self portraiture I have seen. (sorry, Lee Friedlander). Several people have looked at my copy and when 1/3 or 1/2 way though the book have asked if it is the same person in all the photos.

[JeremyLangford]

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1958/47/88/678286729/n678286729_1208704_6293.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1748/47/88/678286729/n678286729_1110475_3609.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1748/47/88/678286729/n678286729_1110476_1798.jpg

[Doug]

I've seen Cindy Sherman's work, and it's amazing (obsessive?). I've wondered why she chose herself as subject, but then (as already suggested) what other model would be so patient on demand? And surely she must have enjoyed the role-playing too.

I've taken a few selfies as part of another person's environment, such as in the dental chair and getting a haircut. I usually try to arrange a local haircut when off on vacation, and documenting that generally involves a mirror.

[RayPA]

ultra-serious faced gratuitous photographer mirror shot :p:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/3226883525_81f6507b71_o.jpg


/

[bmattock]

Found another one. Hehehehe...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/3011747582_597d712b88.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wigwam/3011747582/)

[michaelbialecki]

Interesting thread....I often take self portraits of myself using a screw in timer and a table top tripod or my domke bag for support....Why do I do it? Well, I often find myself living/working/traveling in cool and interesting places and I am usually alone and I want some photos of myself in those places...I have lived and worked a couple of times over the last 10 years at an interesting bookstore in Paris, Shakespeare and Co. and whenever I am there, I take photos of myself....it is a special place for me...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/2232347382_14ac2ac9c8_b.jpg

cheers, michael

[amoz]

Great one, Keith!!

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g196/wheelie52/RFF%20Storage/160vc281008001bw.jpg

[skinnyvoice]

I've always liked Lee Friedlander's 'Self Portrait' book from 1970 and recently had a Friedlander moment (hopefully...):

http://deptfordvisions.com/wp-content/gallery/deptfordgreenwich-27012009/20090127_BR-Deptford-Greenwich.018_lzn-1000.jpg

[Michael P.]

Very nice. I like this a lot. How do you focus? Hyperfocal distance?

[Al Kaplan]

I shoot most of mine with a 15mm Heliar on my Bessa L. Even wide open at f/4.5 the depth of field is from less than 1 meter to infinity. I mostly just leave it focussed at 1 meter all the time.

[Bluesman]

Helen, both pics deserve a second look, and the second one has a lovely snapshot feeling to it - chopped-off head and all. Very ... 60:s/70:s style..love it. Keep it up!

Cheers /Richard

[helenhill]

Helen, both pics deserve a second look, and the second one has a lovely snapshot feeling to it - chopped-off head and all. Very ... 60:s/70:s style..love it. Keep it up!

Cheers /Richard

How Sweet of YOU ,Richard. & Thank You ....
You were Spot On in your Perception
Both shots done this past Summer & Fall
The 'chopped off head' version
was with a 1960's Canon Lens 35/1.8 on RD1
and YES I Quite Agree
Its got that Retro Feel Going

the other shot a 1958 DR Cron on M2

All the Best to You- H :)

[Keith]

Helen, both pics deserve a second look, and the second one has a lovely snapshot feeling to it - chopped-off head and all. Very ... 60:s/70:s style..love it. Keep it up!

Cheers /Richard


I also thought that Helen's second shot has something special about it ... there's a quality that makes you keep looking.

[JoeV]

4 second exposure on preflashed grade 2 paper negative in 5" x 7" format foamcore nested box camera, plastic credit card sized fresnel magnifier as a taking lens, stopped down to F/5.

Afternoon sun through the window for illumination.

~Joe

http://f295.tompersinger.com/uploads/joe004a_5193.jpg

[Schlapp]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3607/3422335482_01471680af.jpg
5x7 using shutterless FKD on film. Used darkcloth as shutter. Cyanotype on watercolour paper

[Chris101]

http://homepage.mac.com/cheilman1/art140/assignment2/spc.jpg

[rbsinto]

This self-portrait was taken to include in my open-ended Self-Assignment of photos of photographers taking photographs.


http://www.photochimps.com/pp/data/orig/500/Just_Another_Point_of_View.jpg

[Steve Karr]

Bob,
I always thought you were a handsome black man ... Geez, the internet. I want to be a sexy blonde...

Poof!

Bambi Holiday





I have only done one and it was a class assignment. It has been on my website for years but it is not identified as a self portrait. I will have to do some more some day.

http://bobmichaels.org/misc/slides/self%20portrait.jpg

[Steve Karr]

In My Next Life ...

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8748/ronjeremy1.jpg (http://img214.imageshack.us/i/ronjeremy1.jpg/)

[Al Kaplan]

Hmmmm....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Bob,
I always thought you were a handsome black man ... Geez, the internet. I want to be a sexy blonde...

Poof!

Steve Karr
Film tank shaker"

No, poor Bob. I met him for lunch one day and he's an ugly white dude just like the majority of the rest of us.

Of course there's Helen Hill to consider. Could those sexy self portraits of hers be Bob Michaels in drag?

[mac_wt]

From time to time I make a selfportrait at work. It's a place I spend a lot of time at and wouldn't otherwise have pictures from.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3633/3429700720_76fa02751b.jpg

[Todd.Hanz]

I'm always behind the camera, never in front of. So a mirror is a necessary evil if I want to be seen.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2419/2363128244_7c094dd88b_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3077/3093801771_6cfb4005cb_o.jpg

then there's this, Rolleiflex propped on a rock from the ground.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/2621999289_9a43e6f345_o.jpg

Todd

[craygc]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1259/1159206927_2fa78a6486.jpg

Was playing with the Mamiya 7II + flash - but as I had the flash and umbrella mounted on my solid tripod. Unfortunately over the roll I shot using the self-timer the tridpod head slowing began tilting down. After this they just got worse :(

[selloutboy]

excellent insights and photos!

This made me want to do my own self portrait project :D
I'm thinking of using my Minolta SLR with my 28mm rather than my FED 5V and I-61 so I could utilize hyperfocal distance and it will be wide enough so I could fit :)

[Martini]

I had to do one for the bio page in a recent show.
One suggested caption: "Would you like fries with that?".

[Vince Lupo]

I had to do this one for a magazine article a few years back -- the story was about 'guys and their cars'. They had a guy who was 'Hybrid Guy', another who was 'Hummer Guy', there was a 'Sports Car Guy' (interestingly, it was the fellow who wrote 'Black Hawk Down'), and I was 'Vintage Car Guy'.

Nice thing was that I shot all the other portraits too -- so I was in the article, and got paid for it too!

http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/ww72/VinceLupo/CoolVinny1.jpg

[Burlap Jacket]

This is a selfy taken with a Busch Pressman D on Polaroid Type 54. I used one of those mechanical timers to trip the shutter. Exposure was f11 @ 1/2 second.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/4067833229_f4bc19b3b6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/burlapjacket/4067833229/)