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Tips for Self Portraits required
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I have an idea for a small project which involves doing some self portraits. However I have never done these before and I am looking for some tips. Especially when it comes to focusing. When you use a remote shutter release, it just fires the shutter and does not AF. Is this correct ?
If so, how would you focus correctly if you are doing and outdoors self portrait. I need the camera to be on a tripod as it will involve full length self portraits.
Cheers.
there are several approaches one could take, have a go and see what suits.
mark the floor where you want to stand (tape usually works well) and place something where you would be standing (a broom or get someone to stand in)measure the distance between the camera and where you would be and use the distance guide on the lens.
use a smaller aperture, that way slight errors in focus will be pulled into range.
if the camera does auto-focus with the remote shutter release switch the lens to manual focus – you dont know what it will decide is the ideal point.
thats my best guesses anyway, hope its of some use! there may be better ways!
Could this be one of the few times you get out of manual mode and use the Portrait auto setting along with Isabelle’s process?
I’ve used a similiar process as Isabella’s suggestion when doing water splash photography. Place an object in the expected plane of focus & if necessary, adjust your aperture to give a greater depth of field. Focus manually on the object & remove it. The lens (in manual mode) will stay focused on this spot. You could also try suspending a thin string (ie. fishing line), with a weight on the end to stop it swinging. Focus on the string & then stand at the point where your face touches the string. Then just pull the string out of frame & shoot. :)
I will Isabella. I have had a lot on my plate photographically lately with model shoots, Product shots for a friend, monthly competitions in the club (which I am in the running for photographer of the year in) but this is something I really want to do. I even bought a remote shutter release last weekend with these shots in mind :)
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