What defines a self-portrait?

[LaPistola]

Ok the literal meaning being a portrait of the photographer.

However would it still be a self portrait if someone else pressed the half shutter to auto focus and then full shutter to take the shot? Saving the photographer having to review and redo the shot 100's of times until he sits/stands perfectly to get the perfect focus on eyes as a portrait should.

Its ok using a remote trigger or timed shutter but the focus is just guess work in front of the camera unless they have some sort of monitor.

[JonnyM]

I think if someone else is focusing and pressing the shutter button it's not a true self-portrait just for the fact of getting someone else involved. What if you don't want the legitimate focus to be on the eyes, is the button presser then having a creative input?

I had to do a self-portrait yesterday for an application as I had no recent photos of myself. Yes, focusing is an issue but I fortunately have a Canon 60D with an articulated screen and live view in addition to a remote shutter release. I had to manually prefocus and it was fairly hit and miss but I achieved a good frame in approximately 20. You could get something to take your place and focus on that and use atleast f5.6.

[DigiDiva]

I don't have the patience...tried it a couple of times but its very hard!!!! To me, if you didn't set up the shot and press the shutter release then it aint a self portrait, its just a photo of you taken with your camera,

[wavemachine]

It is a pain however there are a couple of solutions if you don't have an articulated screen one is more long winded than the other if you don't have an articulated screen in both cases I have used a wireless remote:-

Position a mirror behind the camera so you can get an idea of the composition at least.

Connect the camera to a laptop and shoot in tethered mode either using the cameras native software or something like lightroom.

[DigiDiva]

Originally Posted by wavemachine

It is a pain however there are a couple of solutions if you don't have an articulated screen one is more long winded than the other if you don'e have an articulated screen in both cases I have used a wireless remote:-

Position a mirror behind the camera so you can get an idea of the composition at least.

Connect the camera to a laptop and shoot in tethered mode either using the cameras native software or something like lightroom.

Tethered mode sounds fun.................

[wavemachine]

Originally Posted by DigiDiva

Tethered mode sounds fun.................

Don't get too excited It is the camera that is tethered not the subject

[DigiDiva]

ah..................................

[LaPistola]

Thanks figured as much but hoped telling someone to stand behind the tripod and camera I set up and point that red square at my eye, half press wait for bleep then press, would be still classed as I was hoping to save myself the hassle.

Mirror idea sounds interesting but I don't think I have a lead long enough to tether.

[donoreo]

A remote shutter release is what I used. We had self portraits for the weekend comp back in....February? I focused on the wall, then backed off slightly set a small enough aperture to get a good DOF. Then I went in front of the wall and took the photo.

[ARIANA1985]

Sadly due to lack of time to go out i need to be creative and most of my portraits are self portraits , i either use remote of comment my camera to laptop -and use lightroom . like someone mentioned it before if someone click a picture for you it wont be a true self portrait x