Svengali
As I learn, flash photography makes you look more masculine because the light is so hot. It creates very deep and sharp shadows. I had to pull them out with Photoshop, but that’s how it’s done. It emphasizes a man’s jawline. LOL. However, it’s hard to keep your eyes open with the flash and look natural. Oh well, Halloween’s coming up. Here’s my Svengali look. LOL.
If you’re using a smart phone’s camera, you have to be wary that because of the size of the camera lens, you’re going to get a lot of distortion. Instagram doesn’t let you fix that.
Before: Auto Warp Distortion
After: Adjusted in Photoshop CS2
So I had to use a combination of Spherize and Warp tools in Photoshop CS2 to get it looking somewhat like me. I know I’m not that pudgy. The ideal is to match how your eyes see yourself in the mirror.
I know after tinkering with it in Photoshop, it made my forehead longer, but it looks closer to reality at least.
Me as Rockstar
Me as Rockstar
Me as Rockstar
Me as Rockstar
Me as Rockstar
Me as Rockstar
Me as Rockstar
Me as Rockstar
Me as Rockstar
Me as Rockstar
I’m using either just the on-camera flash or using a standing key light. With the flash, the light is so bright, it actually “flattens” out your face and makes it look wider that it actually is. So what you have to do is go into Photoshop and deepen those midtones, in essence, model out your own face again. With the standing light, I just wanted to see if I could get that highlight on the top of my hair. Now that I know it works, I need a reflector so I can fill in the shadow in the front, since the light doesn’t reach my face.
Hey, it’s a learning process. I’m not ashamed to admit it.
365+ selfies from Instagram for the year of 2014 + a twist
One of my better selfies
I was digging through my old photos and retouched it with some more understanding of levels. You really have to create that wide range of shades, otherwise it will look flat, as it did out of the camera. Even though I set up the lights intending it to look a certain way.
Finally putting use to my knowledge of the camera. When taking self portraits, you need to use smaller aperture so you get a deep depth of field. The idea is that you will have a better chance of (more…)
