MMS 173 Assignment 5: Self-portraiture

The illustration on the left closely shows my camera setup during the shoot. Since I didn’t have a phone stand available, I leaned my smartphone against a stable object, carefully adjusting the angle to get the framing just right. I captured the photos in my room, using the white painted wall as a clean and neutral background to keep the focus on me. For lighting, I placed a lamp in the upper corner to cast soft illumination on my face and create some depth. I kept the camera settings on auto because the default exposure and focus worked well for the look I was going for. Instead of adjusting manual settings, I focused on enhancing the final images through post-processing.

Headshot

Raw image

After post-processing

Details

The composition of my photo was inspired by the reference link provided in the assignment instructions. I aimed for a clean and minimalist look, so I chose to wear a lavender top in a monochromatic palette to complement the neutral background without drawing too much attention away from my face. The curly and somewhat unruly hairstyle was also intentional—it added texture and personality while subtly framing my face to draw the viewer's focus. For post-processing, I used Adobe Lightroom to fine-tune the mood and balance of the image. I reduced the exposure, highlights, and blacks to soften the overall lighting, while increasing the contrast, shadows, and whites to bring out more depth and detail. I also slightly boosted the vibrance to enhance the natural tones, and applied a subtle vintage-style filter to give the final image a nostalgic, warm feel.

Candid Shot

Raw image

After post-processing

Details

For the composition of this image, I wanted to evoke a sense of nostalgia, similar to the previous photo. This time, however, the story centered around my personal journey with drawing—a hobby I picked up a few years ago. I aimed to capture the quiet, reflective atmosphere that often surrounds the creative process. To do this, I used similar post-processing techniques as before: lowering the exposure, highlights, and blacks to soften the image, while increasing the contrast, shadows, and vibrance to give it more depth and emotional tone. I also added more dehaze in this composition to reduce any flatness and enhance the mood. Finally, I overlaid a vintage-style filter to reinforce the nostalgic theme and unify the image’s color palette.

Reflection

After completing this activity, I gained a deeper appreciation for the many small yet important elements that go into photography. What first seemed like a simple act of taking photos turned out to require careful thought, planning, and problem-solving. From setting up the shot and managing lighting to composing the frame and fine-tuning in post-processing, I realized how much creative and technical effort is involved in producing a meaningful image. This experience challenged me to think more critically about my choices as a photographer and gave me a better understanding of how even the smallest details can have a big impact.

The most challenging part for me was setting the overall mood or feeling I wanted to express, which involved elements like the lighting, posing, and post-processing. While the concept itself was simple, executing the idea was a different case from just simply imagining it.

Translating the idea into an actual image was harder than I expected. It took several adjustments and awkward attempts before I was able to produce a result that I was relatively satisfied with. While the execution part was challenging, it was also fun in its own way as I got to try out and experiment with different techniques along the way. Ultimately, it was both a difficult and fun activity for me.

In conclusion, the activity allowed me to apply what I have learned throughout the course. Even though the theme this time was minimalistic, I'm excited to explore more creative and maximalist approaches in the future. This experience not only helped me develop technical skills but also pushed me to reflect on all the work and brain power that go into photography. It gave me a deeper appreciation on the process as a whole and reminded me that a strong image is rarely accidental, but rather a result of intentional and thoughtful process.

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