Heldur
Established
I have noticed quite of a few of these in Avatars, as a progressing beginner will it mean I have really advanced in my photography or morphed into a hopeless nerd?
Al Kaplan
Veteran
I never liked pix of myself shot into a mirror. Going back to about 1962 I played around with just pointing the camera at myself. My first efforts were with an Olympus Pen with a 28mm f/3.5 lens on Kodachrome II. I then went through several years of using the little Leitz Tabletop tripod sitting on a shelf or piece of furniture together with the camera's self timer, mostly with a 19/3.5 Canon on a Leica M. Finally I boiught a 15/4.5 Heliar on a lightweight Bessa L and learned to operate it one handed, either my right or left, while pointing it back towards myself. I try to incorporate myself into the composition of the background location and other people. I call them "environmental self-portraits" and there are some portfolios of them on line linked from my blog, and the blog itself is largely made up of them. http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com About the only "mirror shots" I've done of late have been shot using the outside rear view mirror on my truck, and l don't shoot them while actually driving through traffic.
A lot of the pictures of me on the blog were shot by others. They're not all self portraits.
A lot of the pictures of me on the blog were shot by others. They're not all self portraits.
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John Lawrence
Well-known
I think it's one of those things that everyone tries at some stage in their photography. Possibly started by Ilse Bing?
http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=4232793
http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=4232793
ruby.monkey
Veteran
That isn't necessarily an either/or situation.I have really advanced in my photography or morphed into a hopeless nerd
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Congratulations ... you've just given anyone with their own image in their avatar a choice of sarcasm or an insult.
Richard Jenkinson, who was Pitxu in a previous life, has some of the best self portrait avatars I've seen ... constantly changing and always fascinating!
Richard Jenkinson, who was Pitxu in a previous life, has some of the best self portrait avatars I've seen ... constantly changing and always fascinating!
Nh3
Well-known
Its a sure sign that you're [person with self portrait as an avatar] an extrovert.
ruby.monkey
Veteran
But, as far as I recall, none in a mirror with camera in hand, which excludes his avatars from this discussion.Congratulations ... you've just given anyone with their own image in their avatar a choice of sarcasm or an insult.
Richard Jenkinson, who was Pitxu in a previous life, has some of the best self portrait avatars I've seen ... constantly changing and always fascinating!
It's the 'in the mirror, with camera in shot' bit that pushes things over the edge into sheer nerdery.
FrankS
Registered User
I have noticed quite of a few of these in Avatars, as a progressing beginner will it mean I have really advanced in my photography or morphed into a hopeless nerd?
Or maybe it doesn't mean anything at all.
Keith's early avatar with camera and outdoors-man's hat is one of my favourites.
self - as a subject - is wonderful, isn't it ,-)
personally i don't appreciate the camera hiding half of the face, but that's a personal pref
personally i don't appreciate the camera hiding half of the face, but that's a personal pref
.Lucifuge.
RF Big Fan
But, as far as I recall, none in a mirror with camera in hand, which excludes his avatars from this discussion.
You did not seen his latest avatar
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Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Or maybe it doesn't mean anything at all.
Keith's early avatar with camera and outdoors-man's hat is one of my favourites.
THAT was a mirror shot Frank. The current avatar was done with my Iskra on a tripod using the self timer. Sadly my faithful hat has died!
Gee Nh3 ... you should become a psychologist! You seem to have such intuition when it comes to evaluating people!
Heldur
Established
Congratulations ... you've just given anyone with their own image in their avatar a choice of sarcasm or an insult.
Richard Jenkinson, who was Pitxu in a previous life, has some of the best self portrait avatars I've seen ... constantly changing and always fascinating!
No insult, but I personally feel it a thoroughly nerdy thing to do. Each to their own I guess. Thanks for providing an example anyway lol
FrankS
Registered User
Yes, "Each to their own" is a good motto to live by.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I think the internet is a dangerous place to make asumptions ... some of these avatars may be no connection to the actual people behind the keyboards. I'm actually a thirty two year old pole dancer ... mine's just a pic I found with a google search! 
What the hell is that thing hiding your face?
What the hell is that thing hiding your face?
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
Shooting yourself in a mirror is neither cool nor uncool. It is merely inevitable. Deciding whether or not you should do it is like deciding whether or not to have sex on your wedding night.
Sometimes it can even be kind of semi-interesting
BTW, what on earth has happened to the embedded images?!!?
Sometimes it can even be kind of semi-interesting

BTW, what on earth has happened to the embedded images?!!?
Rprice
Camera Whore
I went with a nerdy thing to do. I think at one point or another in life it has to be done. It is our way of seing what we look like thru anothers eyes. The mirror keeps os from asking our friends to take said photo, thus cofirming our nerdiness.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I went with a nerdy thing to do. I think at one point or another in life it has to be done. It is our way of seing what we look like thru anothers eyes. The mirror keeps os from asking our friends to take said photo, thus cofirming our nerdiness.
So why do all these cameras have self timers ... obviously for people who don't have any friends!
ferider
Veteran
You forgot "its the perfect lens test" 
Roland.

Roland.
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