close iframe icon
approved icon TimmyA avatar
TimmyA
My Shroud [self-portrait]
Banner

My Shroud [self-portrait]



behind the lens badge

This is a photo created for a self-portrait exhibition. It represents an emotional faction on my life of privacy and seclusion....
Read more

This is a photo created for a self-portrait exhibition. It represents an emotional faction on my life of privacy and seclusion.
Read less
cameraCanon EOS 6D

settings Aperture f/11.0 ISO 100 Shutter 1/125 

upload_dateAug, 2014

Views

220

Likes

Awards

Zenith Award
Top Shot Award 22
Moderator Award
Featured
Staff Favorite
  View more
Peer Award
djalmaarmelin keithart Tudorof billmartin_2615 davidjprosser ileanaandreagmezgavinoser NancyFlemingPhotography +32
Outstanding Creativity
NikKnight Kmsweet1987 Mollybrown25 Riley22 kaylajay olgalekomtseva Mya2005lol +29
Superb Composition
MelissaN carinarodwell guyhanes tashphotographer Trinitylabelle tinodejong Wilmari0 +23
Absolute Masterpiece
trinanguyentu mjstine1 HeruPratt are_photography_ cdricdumarche Mollie234 dirkvangiel +11
Top Choice
savannahnluisflores Brandenyoung101 vielalvarez lesleyannehusband divinobanzuela richardhowell melissabailey_1519 +7
Exceptional Contrast
bobsmith
Great Find
Saugirdas
Superior Skill
Mursadur_Rahman_Akash
Genius
bromleychamberlain

Top Ranks

Color Explorer Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Color Explorer Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Anything People Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Anything People Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Emerging Talent AwardsTop 10 rank

Categories

1 Comment |
katiehoggan
 
katiehoggan February 14, 2017
So interesting!

Submitted to Photo Contests
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo and all components used in it were taken in my studio in Chicago. I was creating an image specifically for a self-portrait exhibition I was invited to be a part of.

Time

This was taken in the early afternoon, but you would never know it due to the artificial lighting which was used to create it so I could have said anytime and you wouldn't have known the difference. :)

Lighting

I had been working on a series of images representing beauty as a social issue, so I used a similar lighting style due to the light quality and falloff. It is a very simple Paramount setup which I chose because I wanted to put emphasis on my eyes while keeping shadows under my eyebrows and chin to assist with separation. I chose not to use fill lighting in order to maintain the shadows.

Equipment

This photo was shot with a Canon 6D and a 70-200 2.8 lens. The camera was set on a tripod which I triggered from my position 6-feet away with a PocketWizard. The lighting is an Elinchrom BRX500 with a Rotalux Octabox.

Inspiration

As mentioned above, I was creating an image for an annual self-portrait exhibition I was invited to participate in. I had been experimenting with fabric for some of my creative photography and wanted to explore the possibilities of incorporating with myself as the subject. I took various photos in different poses, with the fabric in various positions. The fabric was held in place by A-clamps attached to a C-stand. I was inspired by imagery from the film "The Cell".

Editing

I actually did a lot of post-processing on this image. It is actually a composite of 6 different photographs. Most of them were of various portions of the fabric, which had to be carefully selected in order to work together well. In addition to blending the fabric together I also had to change the color of my skin around my eyes for it to blend in with the fabric. Despite the lighting being consistent in each shot, there are still challenges presented when compositing the various pieces of fabric, as the fabric texture is fluid and moves in various directions from being manipulated during shooting. I used Photoshop to create this composite.

In my camera bag

I have various bags for various types of shooting, but when I shoot in my studio I am typically using one of my Canon bodies; 6D or 5D MkII and one of two 70-200 2.8 lens. I prefer the long lens over my 85 1.4, because I am typically shooting at f8 or f11 with strobe so the wider aperture is not a consideration. I shoot with various Elinchrom strobes from the BRX500 to the ELB500, which are triggered with an EL SkyPort.

Feedback

The best advice I can give, as I teach in all of my Photoshop courses, is to be sure that you are using consistent lighting. This photo was a bit easier because it was all crafted in the studio, but not all photos are created this way. Often times people create from random photos from their collections or from stock photographs, which makes it a bit difficult if the lighting is not consistent. Consistent lighting means consistent shadows that produce the most realistic images. The other advice I would give is to practice. As with anything, the more one practices the better they will get.

See more amazing photos, follow TimmyA

User photo
It’s your time to shine! ☀️

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Already a member? Log In

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service, and acknowledge you've read our Privacy Policy Notice.