I made 200 tries yesterday:) with my new lens 50mm f1.4 - it's extremely hard to make it focused on the eyes when I am in front of the camera.
I use dolls to adjust the light and then self-timer for "action" shots with my 18-55 lens (it's not so hard to get it focused right) and use remote control with my 50 mm lens.
hth!
it's only about trying and failing I think. I still haven't found any better way to control the focus.
I guess in theory you could use a piece of string to measure where you to be posed and put an object in your place to focus on. Then you stand there with this piece of string touching your nose, drop the string, hit the shutter and um...remember to take the lens cap off :)
*edit - why didn't I think of this before for the self-portrait challenge?
I've never been able to stand *exactly* on the same place as my dolls ot whatever I was focusing on were standing. besides once I focused I can't change the position, and I often want to ly or jump:)
I just find it easier to use the remote control, it gives more freedom.
I work out where I'm going to stand, take the camera off the tripod and focus from where I'm going to stand, on the tripod. Then I switch to manual focus and put the camera back on the tripod.
Helps to get the focus just about in the right spot. That or focus using a remote release.
I work out where I'm going to stand, take the camera off the tripod and focus from where I'm going to stand, on the tripod. Then I switch to manual focus and put the camera back on the tripod.
Helps to get the focus just about in the right spot. That or focus using a remote release.
But seriously - take a zillion shots, from every angle. I tend to turn the camera on myself when I'm bored, and after awhile you get to know yourself as a model very well. I tend to keep the aperature as sharp as possible so that focusing from the other side of the camera isn't such an issue. And then I take a million zillion shots.
Try participating in a 30 day self-portrait challenge and see how much you learn in the process!
For Canon users, the TC80-N3 is an almost essential piece of kit for SPs in my view (I'm pretty sure you can get the same sort of thing for other makes). Just dial in the number of shots you want and at what interval and leave the camera snapping away.
For Canon users, the TC80-N3 is an almost essential piece of kit for SPs in my view (I'm pretty sure you can get the same sort of thing for other makes). Just dial in the number of shots you want and at what interval and leave the camera snapping away.
I'd second that. I've been able to do many, many more creative self portraits since I got that timer, than I could do with a 10 second delay.
I was going to mention an electronic remote. I use Nikon's MC-36. In general, I set the focus area to where my eyes are in the frame and let the remote do the rest. If you have studio lights, or in general good lighting, a smaller aperature will help, as in this self-portrait (the notes have more information on how lighting helped focus).
