Self Photo. CC please!

Still learning this thing called photography. I decided to break away from landscapes today and try some self shots using my 580 II.

ANY advice on the 580 would be appreciated. I really don't know how to use it LOL.

I did learn one thing today though. My el' cheapo wireless remote is not the greatest.


#1

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Very nice shots - I;d say the experiment was a success.

I think they look great!

Both of these pictures are nice, but here are the nit-picks:

There is a bit more tree and stuff above the head that do not contribute much to the picture.

In trying to figure out what is your primary lighting source for the subject, I concluded that you are using a flash mounted on or integral with the camera. If I am correct, that would account for why the lighting seems too flat.

Although the pictures are good, I would suggest seeking out open shade or waiting for an overcast or less contrasty day in order to get more 3 dimensionality from the facial shadows.

Thank you.

Great advice Robert. You are correct about the flash. Flash was mounted on camera. I want to be able to have it remote but that seems to be a pricey thing to do. Unless I am wrong. It was partially cloudy and I took the shots when the sun was behind a cloud.

Here is one I liked with out a flash. This after a little bit of PP.

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good attempt. but IMO, the tree isnt contributing to your photo. it will be better if you've taken with a open field behind, which brings out the mood of the environment. i suppose you want us to also pay attention to the environment as you didnt reduce the DOF. contrast of colours are alright. there again, good attempt.

just my 2 cents.

Good work! I like 2 + 3 but think the pose is a little awkward looking in the first pic

The way to use flash in this situation (at least for my style) is to make the image 3 or 4 stops underexposed, so you get that nice deep gloomy sky, and then use the flash to fill in the subject (in this case you). The flash can't light up the entire sky, so just set it to fill you (and probably the tree).

Thank you for the critiques. This is helping a lot.

Grip, how would you set up your camera/flash in this situation? AT least ballpark anyway. I am having a tough time understanding my flash. I need to spend more time in the manual I guess.

I don't mind the tree so much. Everything just seems so straight down the middle of the photo.
Frame the tree past the left third of the frame and face your shoulders at a 45 degree angle off the tree.
Set your camera up so that the other tree in the BG is at the top right third of the frame. (Make sure its not growing out of your shoulder, arm, hair or guitar.)

The exposure and pp on the last one is really good.
Wear a solid color shirt and lose the shades it's coldness clashes with the natural warmth of the environment/acoustic guitar.
The logo tshirt/shades would work better with a different cliche ie. train tracks, old barn, abandoned warehouse and electric guitar.

I like the last one alot.love the long grass infront of your legs, and the whole composition.the tree is the elephant in the room.lol.but I don't find it detracts from the subject.

I would take advantage of all the open field though.

Thank you all again. The shades, ya, they need to go but I could barely keep my eyes open without squinted. The sun was too bright. Maybe a different time of day would have been better.

What is a CHEAP yet reliable way to get my flash off camera?

I like the pictures well enough, but I gotta ask. Is that really a mullet?

Vetteography wrote in post #6014377
I like the pictures well enough, but I gotta ask. Is that really a mullet?

hahah Heeeeeeeeeeeell no! haha

It's an under cut on my sides. Really helps keep cool in summer.

TheReal7 wrote in post #6014387
hahah Heeeeeeeeeeeell no! haha

It's an under cut on my sides. Really helps keep cool in summer.

Sorry, it's just that I thought the mullet was an endangered species and I had spotted one in the wild...

Oh well, the hunt continues!