Self-Portraits

There are many different ways to accomplish a self portrait and, in fact, since the only requirement is that the photographer be in the shot, in some way, self-portraiture can be mixed and matched with practially any other major genre of photographic work.

There are artists who shoot nudes, and use themselves as models. Sometimes a self-portrait is nothing more than the expression of an idea by a photographer who could not wait to find another model.

Every major photographer you can name has, at one time or another, performed a self-portrait, unless they have a specific artistic reason to never appear in a photograph, themselves.

• The most common type of self-portrait in the world is the “selfie”, where the photographer simply hand-holds the camera at arm’s length, pointing back at them and their surroundings or other people, to record a moment in their lives.

• Think of creative ways to take your self portrait. Ansel Adams once shot a “self-portrait” of his shadow falling on a large rock.

• Learn where you would stand in a frame, and use a tripod and either your camera timer or remote control to execute the shot.

• An artistic self-portrait should follow the same rules you have for your portraiture of other people, and be held to the same standards, showing us something about your personality in the shot.

This example shows the photographer in the situation appropriate to the article it was taken for. It was a technical article, so the clutter behind (although out of focus) is appropriate. The computer is visible, but not overpowering. The main issue with this shot is the reflection in the glasses, something that can be lost by not looking quite so directly into the lens, or by moving the lights further from the camera.