Self-Portrait at 50

I posted a self-portrait yesterday. Here's another. This one was harder for me, and deals with the fact that I've just turned fifty. There's symbolism in the cards, and no attempt to hide my age in my face.

 

Self-Portrait at 50, by Reed A. George

Nikon Df, Nikkor 35mm f2 AF-D Lens, Nikon SB-600 Flash

iso 200, f8, 1/60 sec.

 

You'll notice there are only two cards left in my pocket, and one's the ace of spades. The other fifty say something about the years behind me now. The queen of hearts is still there, close by.

 

I shot this by setting up my Nikon Df on a tripod, pointing straight down at me as I lay on the floor on black background material. The SB-600 flash is pointed in exactly the opposite direction, bouncing off of the ceiling. Twenty second self-timer, just enough time to get the cards in place.

 

Again, the inspiration for doing self-portraits came from the Photographer's Playbook. See the Amazon link below if you want to know more about that book.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

Self Portrait

I've been referring to the Photographer's Playbook (see Amazon link below) for some inspiration. Self-portraits come up multiple times in the book.

 

It was a very cold Sunday, so I decided to set up and try to make one that I had in mind. Here's the result:

 

Zen Circle, Self-Portrait, by Reed A. George

Nikon Df, Nikkor 35mm f2 AF-D Lens, 3-stop ND Filter, Nikon SB-600 Flash

iso 200, f11, 2 seconds

 

I hung up a black backdrop, put the Df on a tripod, and connected the SB-600 flash with a remote cord and mounted it up higher on a second tripod with a small softbox over it. Using a 20 second self-timer setting on the Df, I was able to get situated before the shutter opened. With a 2 second exposure, I had enough time to make the circle with a small flashlight I held in my hand. It was my intention to leave the circle unfinished as it is. The flash was set to rear curtain sync, so that it froze my position at the end of the exposure. I also like how the preflash left an impression of where my arm was at the beginning of the exposure.

 

Overall, I'm pretty happy with this. I have a couple of other self-portrait ideas that I may try next.

 

If you think it's easy to do a self-portrait, you should give it a try. I find it quite difficult to get an image of myself that I don't hate.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

Self Portrait, In the Shadow

Me, by Reed A. George

Leica CL, Minolta Rokkor 40mm f2 Lens, Kodak Tmax 400 Film

 

There's one side of the camera lens that I distinctly prefer to be on - behind it. However, I did include myself in this image.

 

I loved the crazy shadow shape on the deck of this housing unit overlooking the Potomac River at Georgetown University. I can't decide if it looks like I'm ascending to that shape, or being oppressively threatened by it. It's graphic; you have to give me that.

 

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