Methods to focus for a self portrait???

**stradibarrius** · 29-May-2012, 14:12

When you do a self portrait, how do you make sure you are in focus and posed in the frame correctly????

**Tim Meisburger** · 29-May-2012, 14:58

The traditional method is a string tied to the camera and touched to the end of the nose or eyelid. For framing, have other objects in view and use those to establish the frame.

**kurtdriver** · 29-May-2012, 17:39

You might also focus on another item in the same spot and then stand there. Mark the spot with a bit of tape on the floor.

**Jim Jones** · 29-May-2012, 20:33

I usually use the string method; it's more accurate. A low power laser at right angles to the camera axis and in the plane of focus can be seen out of the corner of the eye if the eye is what one wants sharpest.

**Emil Schildt** · 31-May-2012, 14:53

two attachments..

1 is an amazingly good drawing

by me (not easy to "draw" in photoshop..) on how my girlfriend has told me she does it.

2 is one of her self portraits made this way.. (rather precise I'd say...)

1: place your camera - and place a big mirror under or next to it so you can see what you're doing (be carefull as it of course isn't the precise mirroring).

She then places a microphone stand right outside the actual framing (that takes care of the framing in the whole image.)

A string with a pencil or other thing attached to the string. A (red dot on image) chewing gum or similar is placed excately where she has one of the eyes - that's where she will focus.

After focussing et al, she places her self at the right spot, and then gently pushes her top boom arm of teh stand away from sight. Then carefully look if the light and pose is right and takes the picture...

Nothing to it - but it can take hours...

**numnutz** · 31-May-2012, 16:37

How can you do it with a "galli" shutter?

nn

**sully75** · 31-May-2012, 20:51

Any ideas for a shutter release? I bought an air bulb, but it was very crappy, all plastic, and it couldn't push the pin with enough force to trip the shutter. Not sure which brand to buy, they all look real cheap.

**stradibarrius** · 1-Jun-2012, 05:33

Sully has asked my second question...what about a relapse?

Originally Posted by sully75

Any ideas for a shutter release? I bought an air bulb, but it was very crappy, all plastic, and it couldn't push the pin with enough force to trip the shutter. Not sure which brand to buy, they all look real cheap.