Monday, June 28, 2010

Who's that...

This weekend, I decided it was time for a self portrait. I hate being in front of the camera. I don't know what it is, but I don't feel comfortable. I always have that awkward look, smile, or whatever. Alone, at 1 in the morning, in the freezing cold, I decided it was the perfect time for a self portrait. It was difficult conditions: pitch black with no ambient light, 1 flash, 1 wired shutter release that didn't reach to where I needed it to, wireless flash trigger, 2 tripods (1 for the camera and 1 for the flash), and a flash light. Here is how I accomplished it:
  1. Setup camera tripod
  2. Setup flash tripod so that the head is right where your eyes will be.
  3. Use the flash light to help focus the camera on the flash tripod head. After focus is achieved, set the camera to manual focus.
  4. Do a dance
  5. Move the flash to upper camera right
  6. Set camera to timer
  7. Press shutter and move to location
  8. Look tough.. I mean real tough.. look at my mean mug
  9. Try again and again until you get a desirable amount of sharpness (it is harder than it looks)
Things I would do to make the shot better:
  1. Add a second flash to help fill the dark shadows on the side of my face (the equipment purchases never end!)
  2. Get rid of the hot spot on my cheek
  3. Look even tougher (impossible, I know)

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