The Self-Portrait Thread - Post yourself here

[BlueX]

I've seen a quite a few self portraits out there and thought it would be nice to "meet" everyone in one thread. I always like putting a face to a screen name.

Like many photographers, I feel much more comfortable behind the lens. But I do have a lot of self portraits on my computer. That's because I am my most convenient model. No one in my family has the patience to stand around a pose for me while I experiment with lights, reflectors, settings, etc... And I cannot pay for a pro model (not in this economy). Once in a while I am even surprised with a nice picture, which isn't easy considering my face. :(

This picture started out as an experiment with my flash and wireless receiver. I was trying to recreate a certain look that I've like since I first seen it. If anyone is familiar with the P90x workout dvds (or the cover to Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do book), this will look familiar. Then I use the picture as part of a graphics class assignment. That's where the wings came from. I have a thing about angels and winged beings.

[jjeling]

Yeah I am familiar with P90x. I was actually going to borrow that from my cousin, but our friend needs to use it before his wedding. haha, anyways, once he is done with it I will get it. Does it actually work? If you use it I would have to say yes. Nice jot too, looks like you had a reall good can of red bull.

[BlueX]

Red bull...???...Oh I get it! Haha. Yeah.

P90x does work, sort of. Results may vary. I am chronically skinny. I weight less now than I did in high school (more than 10 yrs ago) and it takes a lot for me to put on muscle and maintain it. Here's the result of the 1st 90 days, a noticeable difference, but not the results I was hoping for. It will take me more than 90 days for me. The work outs are tough and the hardest part is keeping the motivation and discipline to work out everyday. Time becomes a big factor if you have a busy schedule. My biggest advice if you are going to start this is get into a routine where you will almost automatically do it everyday and push yourself as hard as you can, you only get out what you put into it. I guess that was 2 things, huh? Oh yeah, the diet part is also important too.

[kat]

Hmm..easier than the old weights in the gym? That is what I do.

It's definately not easy to gain weight. I do the creatine, protein thing for now. Eating as much as I can (of course the healthy chicken, brown rice thing). Trying to gain weight (muscle).

You're doing well!!! Keep it up!

[jjeling]

haha. yeah. At 5'10 im about 170, not that skinny but there is relatively little body fat. The weight is mostly in my legs. Ive always been able to eat whatever I want and don't gain a pound. My cousin had this and it worked for him as well but he didnt stick with it. Pushing myself isnt the problem. I still do almost 100 pushups everyday, its the diet part that is going to kill me. I dont eat terribly, its just forcing myself to eat things that I might not feel like eating. I can put on weight fast if I start weight training, but this is quite the opposite. Curious, what kind of results were you expecting?

[tomorrowstreasures]

wonderful sp!!! not bad on the hard earned 6 pack too! :D

[jjeling]

KAT?!?! I would have never expected that from you. Ive never heard of a woman taking creatine and protein. You are a different breed up there, different, but kind of cool. Not sure how much money your willing to spend on supplements and what not, but I used something called NO2 which worked really well for adding muscle. Its quite expensive, there is a generic version called NO2x. A little cheaper and does the same thing I guess.

[kat]

KAT?!?! I would have never expected that from you. Ive never heard of a woman taking creatine and protein. You are a different breed up there, different, but kind of cool. Not sure how much money your willing to spend on supplements and what not, but I used something called NO2 which worked really well for adding muscle. Its quite expensive, there is a generic version called NO2x. A little cheaper and does the same thing I guess.

Right now I have Creakic from Muscletech. Seems to be alright. I've only started up on it again. Want to get some gain before summer.

Oh..I love the look of a defined woman. Not crazy define but fitness define. I absolutely love Jenn Gates.. these photos are awesome (the complete series in Flex Magazine is sweet)

http://www.hardbody.com/news/2008/12/05/hardbody-flexclusive-jenn-gates-behind-the-scenes-photo-shoot/

[kat]

I've seen the ads for the NO2 but haven't put much thought into them..Pete does all the buying. He's into bodybuilding. Absolutely great way to keep the stress down in the winter!!!

[BlueX]

Wow, Kat, that surprised me too. I don't hear too many women wanting to take creatine. I find these dvds more motivating and structured vs weight training on my own.

As far as diet, I have cut out processed and prepackaged food (almost completely) and fast foods. I try to eat more veggies than I use to. I try eating 3 dinner sized meals a day and at least one protein shake (muscle milk). I also take creatine. The problem is my metabolism is so fast, it all just passes right through me. I try to constantly chew on something, but I sometimes I don't have anything good. It gets expensive after a while.

Here is where I would like to be.

[BlueX]

wonderful sp!!! not bad on the hard earned 6 pack too! :D

Thanks!

[tomorrowstreasures]

I have help for those of you needing a few extra pounds! I have plenty here and am willing to share with any and all that need it...let's see, I have a good 100 pounds for the offering! First come first serve. Effective while supplies last.:D

[Mad Aussie]

Really nice Self Portrait in your 1st post there BlueX!! Top class in every way.

[kiley9806]

great 1st shot bluex! really creative... i'd maybe burn the forehead a little, as its a bit bright to me.
you all have seen selfies of me, whether you knew it or not, so i wont add to this thread.. ;)

[Mad Aussie]

great 1st shot bluex! really creative... i'd maybe burn the forehead a little, as its a bit bright to me.
you all have seen selfies of me, whether you knew it or not, so i wont add to this thread.. ;)
I saw one in the Ph.ca Google Map ;) Nice snapshot of you and hubby.

[Michaelaw]

Took this while practicing a concept I have going. Wasn't meant to ba a self portrait but that's knd of what it is

http://www.redzonefilms.com/pics2/see me.jpg

[BlueX]

Took this while practicing a concept I have going. Wasn't meant to ba a self portrait but that's knd of what it is


Yeah, most of my "self portraits" are just results of photographic experiments.

[kat]

I feel like a kid that's being bawled out all of a sudden :)

[Michaelaw]

I scared myself when I opened this file:D The guy who will eventually be in this shot is hard for me to co-ordinate with so I filled in to see if I could get this part practiced before he fills my shoes:)

[kiley9806]

I saw one in the Ph.ca Google Map ;) Nice snapshot of you and hubby.

thanks :D that was taken last christmas in thailand.

theres a few more self shots of me lurking around on this forum... :eek:

[kiley9806]

Took this while practicing a concept I have going. Wasn't meant to ba a self portrait but that's knd of what it is

whoa - now thats a 180 from the nice guy shot you posted before! whats the concept? intimidating & scary? its totally working!
:D

[Mad Aussie]

thanks :D that was taken last christmas in thailand.

theres a few more self shots of me lurking around on this forum... :eek:
Yes ... so you aluded to http://www.mtbdirt.com.au/home/smf/Smileys/classic/hmm.gif we might have to go and find some ;)

[Michaelaw]

whoa - now thats a 180 from the nice guy shot you posted before! whats the concept? intimidating & scary? its totally working!
:D
while the camera was counting time to get the shot (12 secs I think) I was playing the drill sergeant from "Full Metal jacket"...."You will not laugh, You will not cry, I will teach you!" That's the only way I knew to look scary:) I'll post the final result as soon as it goes down, soon I'm hoping.

[Mad Aussie]

thanks :D that was taken last christmas in thailand.

theres a few more self shots of me lurking around on this forum... :eek:
So ... wearing a wig then??
http://www.photography.ca/Forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1479&stc=1&d=1234391776

Found you http://www.photography.ca/Forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=242&stc=1&d=1209785616

[kiley9806]

lol - yup, that is me... i wanted real feedback on the vday pics, so i didnt want to say it was me... plus its a bit embarrassing! haha. (but the hubby did like em!)
and that is my real hair - not a wig. :) just got a haircut here: http://www.photography.ca/Forums/showthread.php?t=1550

[tomorrowstreasures]

So ... wearing a wig then??
Found you
MA - there are more than that! :-) keep looking!

[Marko]

I've posted this b/w before but it's my favourite self portrait taken about 10 years ago (yikes)

the other shot was taken last year.

[tomorrowstreasures]

I've posted this b/w before but it's my favourite self portrait taken about 10 years ago (yikes)

the other shot was taken last year.

wow, Marko - 2 totally different moods illustrated there! I really like them both!
The top one is my fave - only b/c i love the drama of the b/w with heavy shadowing.

here is my self portrait! enjoy!

1792

[kat]

Wow TT..you have one of those faces that is so easy to read :P

Love the first one Marco!

[BlueX]

Nice photos, Kiley (there certainly better looking members in this forum compared to the Subaru forum). I like the eyes pic, very graphic like Japanese cartoons.

I love the b&w pic Marco. I just love that one light in the dark effect! And the emotion in the face is great. Can't say I like the 2nd one though, I don't get it.

Wow, TT, is that the sketch filter in photoshop?

[jjeling]

Should I repost my self portraits? :eek: LOLOLOL!!!!

[kiley9806]

lol! jj, i have a bad feeling about what MA's opinion on your reposting will be! :D

marko -i remember these were from quite a while back -AWESOME b&w self photo!!

[Mad Aussie]

Well Kiley ... It's easy to see why hubby liked them. You are brave to post them so I won't make a 'huge' deal out of it or make 'mountains out of molehills' http://www.mtbdirt.com.au/home/smf/Smileys/classic/hihi.gif

Seriously though I remember critiqueing those and liked them for their photographic qualities also ;) And there's more out there somewhere huh?

TT ... funny .... you need work on putting makeup on I think? Maybe use a smaller spatula or less pressure in spray gun! http://www.mtbdirt.com.au/home/smf/Smileys/classic/biglaugha.gif

Marko ... love the B/w also. As always, anything that uses harsh light and deep shadows and works gets my vote. Man you look old in that shot though. The 'negative' version of that you wear now (i.e bald as a babies ass) certainly takes about 70 years off you ;)

[Mad Aussie]

Should I repost my self portraits? :eek: LOLOLOL!!!!
Only if you stand in Toledo and take the shot from Montreal thank JJ ;)

[Marko]

Thanks everyone. They were fun to do for sure. The b/w shot was right before I shaved off a full beard which I have grown only a few times in my life. Normally I sport the obligatory bald guy's goatee...and yeah, holy moly I look way older in that shot than i do now and the shot is a decade old.

There's also something deeply personal about some self portraits, and they work on many themes and many levels. They are masks of a sort and they intrigue the heck out of me.

I have a few more that I'll post in this thread at some point.

But these are fun and I'd love to see many more from different members.

thx all!
Marko

[tomorrowstreasures]

TT and DLK self portraits here:

1803

1804



you can get yours too from here:
http://www.cpbintegrated.com/theherofactory/

[Mad Aussie]

Took another shot at myself ...

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u104/Mad-Aussie/09%20photographyca/_MG_2658.jpg

Used a sheet of glass and my LED bike light

[tomorrowstreasures]

MA - you look just like your daughter. or is it, she looks just like you?
Lovely portrait either way.

[Michaelaw]

Great shot...Love the lighting Mr. Aussie...

[JAS_Photo]

Great photo, MadAussie!

[jjeling]

Nice concept. Did a good job pulling this one off, I'm just surprised the glass didn't break..:eek:;)

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks all

Me too JJ ... me too http://www.mtbdirt.com.au/home/smf/Smileys/classic/biglaugha.gif
I'm almost as ugly as you are! http://www.mtbdirt.com.au/home/smf/Smileys/classic/hihi.gif

[GregL]

MA: this shot is great. Love the lighting. I was thinking about buying a new flash unit. I'll just have to use my bike light!

Love the fact that the face is hidden in the top shot, but revealed in the reflection

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks Greg. Yeh, if you have a really bright bike light then they make a good light source.
Mine is no ordinary bike light though ... it 3x 3 watt Cree LED's that I use to ride the MTB at night in the bush and for those all night races. If you have something like then then great.

I tried the flash to see if it would help here but without being able to fire it off camera it was of no use for what I wanted.

[kat]

NIce shot MA! Very creative!!!

[Marko]

Love the graphic superhero images TT.

MA - that autoportrait in post 37 is excellent and appeals to me on many levels. Great job.:highfive:

[Marko]

This is the same shot as I put into the community map...but it's nice to have them all in one neat thread. so here t'is again. I went through a prolific mythology period....

http://www.photography.ca/onlinestore/var/files/website/photogallery/onlinestore/pg0007_lg.jpg

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks Kat and Marko.

As I said Marko ... you have many faces! Hard to even see 'you' in that shot at all.

[kat]

Whoa..I didn't see it at first either!!

[BlueX]

MA- I really like this one too. The one light source is really good for the moody dramatic effect. It's hard to belive that that is the face behind all these wise cracking posts.

Marko- The look of the pic really suits the theme, very nice.

[Mad Aussie]

MA- I really like this one too. The one light source is really good for the moody dramatic effect. It's hard to belive that that is the face behind all these wise cracking posts.
Must all be in the delivery ;)