How To Take A Self-Portrait (with A Digital Camera)

A Practical Guide (page 1 of 3)

 

One of the things I often get asked about is advice on taking a successful self portrait. I have never advocated a focus on equipment, but in the case of this solitary exercise, some tools and methods are in order for review. We will examine them in this short article along with tips and secrets to taking a successful self-portrait. Afterwards, I shall follow it with a rudimentary survey of available digital cameras that are best suited for the job.

In the pre-digital camera days, the Polaroid was the standard tool for immediate results when taking self-portraits. In the modern day of digital cams, where LCD screen offers preview screens, an immense luxury is afforded by the self-portrait photographer. So what are you waiting for? Be your model and the photographer at the same time. You save $10,000 and Linda Evangelista doesn't need to get out of bed for all you care!

1. Constructing The Other Photographer.

Essentially, a self-portraitist needs to divide him or herself into two people: The Artist and the Subject. It's not as difficult as it sounds, and certainly no requirement for cloning is demanded. Every time we look into a mirror, our assessment of our image, is, in iteself, a separation of artist from subject. We critique our appearance in the reflection while simultaneously readjusting (or primping) ourselves to accomodate the assessment. One of the first steps to a successful self-portrait is to replicate that separation into an entity where you, the subject can walk away from. You will need

• A Digital Camera
• A tripod
• A c-clamp camera (&quotclamppd&quot tripod) support
• A "stand-in" dummy (for focusing purposes)
• A Mirror or a television set
• A small hand vanity mirror (optional)
• A cable release or remote control if available (optional)

1A.Do I Need A Tripod?

If you want to work with a tripod, a sturdy lightweight one is recommended. Bigger is not necessarily better in this day and age of compact digital cameras that utilize microchips and advanced plastics (compared to the olden days of heavy metal nikon warhorses and linhof studio view cameras). A tripod should be something that you can manuever around quickly and effortlessly while working. Bogen / Manfrotto offers some choice tripods from affordable to pro ranges. Remember that even if you don't always need a tripod, it can still double as a stand for mirrors, flood light stands, and support for reflectors) (TIP! Stay away from quick-release leg locks, as those tend to work on friction tension, meaning that as it ages, it will wear out, making it difficult to lock a tripod leg in place)

Now if you decide against a tripod, my recommendation is a "Clamp pod." It's actually a c-clamp with a ball head and a camera socket attaced to it. These items are faster to work with and offer greater flexibility around tight corners. Also you easily clamp your camera onto a mirror frame or furniture, to get those original angles that no one else with a tripod could achieve. The thing I like most about clamp pods is their ability to position a digital camera like a web-cam above the mirror, which you then look into.

Well, you're almost finished with creating your self-photographer. You have a clamp, or tripod for your camera. Now you need a mirror to give you instantaneous feedback as to what your present appearance is, as well as an approximation of what the camera sees.

1B. The Mirror: See What The Camera Sees
A wall-mounted full-length mirror should be adequate. Drug stores and home improvement places should carry them. Although you will get that funhouse distortion that comes with cheap, thin mirrors, remember that you just want an approximate monitor for what the camera sees. Just think of the mirror as an equivalent of a computer monitor, and the digital camera above the mirror as your webcam.

You want to check your posture, the presence of unsightly hair, folds. Alternately, you can secure a small picture mirror to your tripod's center post with a pair of regular c-clamps. (When you are doing fairly close shots, people sometimes recommend a Reflective Filter (a lens filter with a glass much like those from mirrored sunglasses), but this is impractical because most point-and-shoot digital cameras do not have a filter thread on their lenses to accomodate the addition of a filter).

1C. (Optional) The Television Monitor: See What The Camera Sees
In place or in addition to a mirror, you may also want to try a small television set. Most modern digital cameras have a A/V Out jack where a A/V cable can be plugged into the A/V Video input RCA jacks of a television set. These are the color coded jacks (usually red, white, and yellow) on your tv set where the dvd, vcr, or video game plugs into.

Again, because this is only for monitoring purposes, the television set does not have to be a high quality one, any small working portable set* lying around the house can be put to duty. You may need a RF Modulator-Video Component Adapter to plug the A/V component jack onto an old coaxial jack if you are using a old tv set. The advantage of a television monitor is that it doesn't have to be directly behind or below the camera. The disadvantage is that you may have to physically turn the tv set on it's side fore vertical shots.* (TIP!Check the cropping discrepancies between what the tv returns and what the camera preview returns.)

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2. The "stand-in" dummy (for focusing purposes)

*note: please exercise good sense and safety precautions when using television sets that have been in storage. Tv sets retain a high electrical charge and should be handled with care. Turning tv sets on their sides should be a done with extreme caution. This is not recommended, unless you are using small utility sets that are considered portable. Even then, it should be placed in that position only for temporary use as ventilation grills may be obstructed. Use this piece of advice at your own risk. The author assumes no responsibility forcircumstances resulting from the use of television sets in unconventional positions.