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1. Introduction
This activity documents how I executed MMS173 Assignment 5B (self-portraiture exercise). The documentation is organized as follows: Section 2 details the pre-production phase which narrates the preparation made including all needed equipment. Section 3 describes the production and post-production phases and compares the original and edited photos both for the headshot and candid photo; then provides exposure triangle and the corresponding storytelling behind the photos. The last section shares the lessons I learned from this new experience.
2. Pre - Production Phase
Before proceeding with the exercise, I prepared first a checklist to give me direction and references. I read carefully Assignment 5B's instruction to make sure I understand all the requirements of the exercise at https://www.allibrero.com/mms-173-self-portraiture-exercise/ . To help me visualize my idea, I searched sample photos from the internet for inspiration. I downloaded a number of photos and eventually narrowed them down into two photos as shown by Figure 1a and Figure 1b below.
To replicate these photos using myself as the subject, I decided to take indoor photos and waited until midnight to exploit the natural darkness of the night. For the location, I chose our living room (Figure 2) and my bedroom with study table (Figure 3) as the locations for my photo shooting exercise. A black cloth was placed on the wall to provide black background.
Figure 2a. Living Room
Figure 2b. Living Room with Black Cloth
Figure 3a. Bedroom with study table
Figure 3b. Bedroom with Black Cloth
Then, I prepared all the necessary equipment and accessories:
iPhone 16 (Fig. 4a) as my camera
Selfie stick (Fig. 4b) with tripod to hold my iPhone
Adjustable table (Fig. 4c) for the selfie stick
Extra table (Fig. 4d) to hold the table lamp
Table lamp (Fig. 4d) as the source of artificial light
Black cloth (Fig. 4e) to provide black background
Fig. 3a. iPhone 16
Fig. 4b. Selfie stick
Fig. 4c. Table
Fig 4d. Extra table
Fig. 4e. Lamp
Fig. 4f. Black cloth
2. Production and post-production phases
Figures 5a and 6a are the original headshot and original candid shot respectively, while Figure 5b and Figure 6b are their corresponding edited versions. For the post-processing techniques, I just used two enhancing tools: first is the cropping of images to apply the rule of thirds, achieving well-balanced images and reducing unnecessary negative spaces. The second technique is adjusting shadows to reduce unnecessary noise and distractions, focusing more on the subject.
Figure 5a. Original headshot
Figure 5b. Edited headshot
Exposure triangle: In Figure 5a, I captured a dramatic low-key portrait where only half of my face is illuminated, while the other half disappears into deep shadow. I wanted to create a really intense and moody atmosphere, so I used a wide aperture of f/1.6 to let in as much light as possible and separate myself clearly from the dark background. Since the lighting was minimal, I had to slow down the shutter speed to around 1/15 seconds. That meant I had to stay very still to avoid any motion blur. To make up for the lack of light, I bumped the ISO up to 8000, which helped brighten the image enough to bring out the details while still keeping that shadowy, dramatic effect I was aiming for.
Storytelling: In this self-portrait I created, I used dramatic low-key lighting to bring out deep emotion. I lit up only half of my face, letting the other half fade into shadow — and that contrast gives the photo a mysterious, introspective feeling. I wanted it to look almost cinematic, with a noir-like mood, and the strong lighting helped highlight my facial features in a striking way. The darkness stretching to the left side adds to the emotional weight, pulling attention toward the intensity in my expression.
As I composed the shot, I was thinking about how we all carry some kind of inner conflict. The balance between light and shadow on my face was my way of showing that duality — the parts of ourselves we show versus the parts we keep hidden. The serious look on my face reflects a quiet strength or maybe some deep thoughts I was processing in that moment. The surrounding darkness adds to the sense of isolation, as if inviting anyone who looks at the photo to step into my personal, reflective space.
Personal feeling at that moment: Actually, my eyes and facial expression don't lie and transmit a feeling of tiredness and frustration due to numerous attempts to have a "perfect headshot". I took that photo past midnight and I begun losing my patience.
Figure 6a. Original candid shot
Figure 6b. Edited candid shot
Exposure triangle: In Figure 6a, I captured myself playing a video game in a dimly lit room, where the glow from the computer monitor is really the only light source. To make the shot work in such a low-light setup, I used a wide aperture of f/1.6 to let in as much light as possible. This also gave the image a shallow depth of field, gently blurring the background so the focus stays on me as the player. I set the shutter speed to around 1/15 seconds — just fast enough to avoid motion blur from my hands moving on the controller, while still letting in enough light for a clear image. Since the room was quite dark, I had to raise the ISO to 8000 to brighten the photo. It does run the risk of a bit of grain, but it was worth it to capture the atmosphere and mood of that quiet gaming moment.
Storytelling: This photo captures what it really feels like when I’m completely locked into a game. The contrast between the dark room and the bright glow of my monitor pulls all the focus to me and the characters on screen — Bryan and Jin from Tekken. The lighting gives off this intense, almost cinematic vibe, and I like how it makes the moment feel personal and real. With my headset on, controller in hand, and the RGB lights from my keyboard glowing softly, everything in the frame shows just how much I’m into it. It’s more than just playing — it’s about passion and focus.
Sitting alone in that quiet room, with only the light from the screen keeping me company, I’m fully immersed in the fight happening in front of me. There's this contrast between the stillness around me and the tension of the game that I think really stands out. That moment says so much without any words — it’s about escape, deep concentration, and that feeling when nothing else matters except the game in front of you.
3. Self-reflection
Production process: Taking those headshot and candid photos really tested my patience and precision—I had to carefully adjust the angle and lighting until I got the look I was aiming for. I've come to realize just how crucial lighting is in photography. It sets the mood, sharpens the details, and can completely change how a photo feels. When I get the lighting right, the colors pop, the textures stand out, and the subject really draws the eye. But if the lighting’s off, it can create awkward shadows, blow out the highlights, or make the whole image feel flat. In the end, lighting can either elevate a photo or take away from its impact.
In other words, the process of completing this self-portraiture exercise required patience, as it was a cycle of trial and error. Much like any creative endeavor, achieving the best result takes time finding the right elements is key to unlocking the full potential of the photograph. Please see the video clip below for the behind the scene documentation.
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