Photography Breadth Assignment #10

Multiple Self Portrait

Focus: Balance, Repetition, Rhythm, Movement

Goal: Work with a partner or use multiple mirrors to do a photo shoot of yourself. Consider: What you will wear, props, background, environment, expression, Select multiple images and experiment with double exposure to create a final ‘multiple self-portraits’ Consider you’re your image communicates about who you are? Are you portraying yourself as someone else? Or unveiling deep truths about who you are?(look at Cindy Sherman)

Additional Materials You May Need: Tripod, Tape, either a shutter release remote or someone to help you take the photograph?

Process: First brainstorm your theme for your compositions. What are you trying to tell the viewer about yourself? A good place to start is by looking at the photography of Cindy Sherman. Take a look at how she communicates her message to the viewer. You have to really put thought into the content of the subject matter. Some things to think about as you do that:

• How can you show the many sides of yourself?
• How many times will you need to appear in the scene in order to express your message?
• Are you going to be wearing the same clothes?
• Will the environment stay the same each time?
• How will lighting effect your message?
• How will your facial expressions differ?
• How will your body language further help express your content?

Next, do rough sketches as to what you want your final piece to look like. This will help you position yourself when it is time to start shooting the images.Then you will set up your scene. You will want to use a tripod and a friend to help you shoot it, or a wireless cable release. Use tape to mark the area that you stand so that you know where to position yourself in the next shot. Shoot multiple shots in each of the different stances or positions that you are in so that you have plenty to choose from when you start to edit. Take all the shots that you need PLUS some additional shots of just the background in case.

After all of your shots are taken, select the images that work best together. Open all of the images in Photoshop and copy and paste them into one document. Each of the images that you shot will appear as a different layer. You are going to want to combine them. You are going to want to choose one that has the background exactly how you want it and that will be your base. Since you used a tripod, all of the backgrounds should be the same. Cut out the other images and place them on the original. Make sure to look at details

After you have all of the images on the document, you may flatten the layers if you would like to color manage the image. If not, you can leave the layers separate so that you may edit the image later. If you have flattened the image, you may save it as a JPEG, if you would like the ability to manipulate the image at a later time, you may save it as a Photoshop PSD file.