Help with Recording Life Memories

[sboyer]

I am still quite new to photography, and really bought a dslr to take great pictures where my p&s just didn't work. But one thing that I've found is that as I look at my photo albums, there are no pictures of me in them. While I enjoy taking pictures thoroughly, it would be nice to have pictures of me with friends/family/girlfriend/etc.

Example: Last weekend my girlfriend and I went to dinner for her birthday and I brought my 30D while she brought her p&s. We wanted to get a picture at the dinner table of the two of us, but I didn't trust the waiter using my camera, so we used her p&s (which came out crappy due to low light and lots of noise).

So my question is: "How do you get pictures of yourselves?"

[number six]

I give the camera to the waiter. What's wrong with that? Set it, tell him/her what button to push, set it to high speed burst.

-js

[nicksan]

I guess you just have to chance it and use some of the automatic features of the camera like P mode and automatic AF point selection etc because I know one thing is that most folks won't understand using that one focus point that is selected to achieve focus. They will just compose, then just mash at the shutter button. So it's always a hit or miss.

I know what I let my wife use my gear, it's always a hit or miss b/c of this.

[number six]

I guess you just have to chance it and use some of the automatic features of the camera like P mode and automatic AF point selection etc because I know one thing is that most folks won't understand using that one focus point that is selected to achieve focus. They will just compose, then just mash at the shutter button. So it's always a hit or miss.

I know what I let my wife use my gear, it's always a hit or miss b/c of this.

If I'm handing my camera to a civilian I don't expect them to understand the fine points. So it's f/8, ISO 800, Av, center focus point, flash if necessary.

Usually works fine.

-js

[chauncey]

Self portraits have never been high on my priority list. :roll:

[Alexei TND]

Self portraits have never been high on my priority list. :roll:

ditto there, from all the pictures on my HD ( around 90K sofar) im on maybe 10 of them xD

[neil_r]

If I want a picture with me in it I set up the camera and give it to whoever will take it.

This was taken by an illiterate car park attendant in Bangalore, India with a 1D MkII and a 17-40 L. I think he did a pretty good job :-)

http://www.ambrosiabbs.com/gallery/photo/medium/bangalore_june_06_N6H9270.jpg

[sboyer]

thanks guys for the responses, that's what i do then - set it up and hand it over. i just feel like in this day and age, some people would not know how to even line up the shot without looking at the rear LCD, haha.

[lungdoc]

Another option at popular photo places is to ask someone else with a DSLR to take your picture (with your camera); odds are higher that they'll know enough to get a decent shot; you can even reciprocate. Worked for me several times when solo.

[nicksan]

...and I count my blessings every day for that!;):lol:
Self portraits have never been high on my priority list. :roll:

[nicksan]

Actually, it's the other way around for me.
I look like a fool trying to operate a P&S.:lol:

thanks guys for the responses, that's what i do then - set it up and hand it over. i just feel like in this day and age, some people would not know how to even line up the shot without looking at the rear LCD, haha.