Taking Self Portraits on a Film Camera

[@apb_london]

March 2023 I decided to do a series of B&W film self portraits over the 12 months to follow. I printed a collection as a book for myself, it arrived yesterday and today I was printing some in the darkroom. You are spot on to talk around feeling vulnerable. For self portraits you are telling a story as how a photographer sees you but also as the model, it is how you see yourself from both perspectives. Whereas you may feel vulnerable, you are also being very powerful, you have full control to move away from how others want to portray you to how you want to be perceived. It is a very different experience to taking a phone selfie! Each series I took would take an hour or two to set up with off the camera flash and light modifiers etc. I have the same cable release as you, occasionally activated under my foot! A great video, thank you.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

That’s so dope. I appreciate it & thanks for sharing 🙏🏾

[@zetaphotography6548]

I’m coming back to this after seeing the video 2 months ago and feel ready (never really read) to try this….. Where do you get that long remote?

[@alexcolorito]

Really love this video man, I've been up against a wall with my personal work lately not feeling like my concepts are good enough reach out to other people to shoot them. Probably just a lack of self confidence to ask but this inspired me to shoot some self portraits and have fun with lighting and see what happens. Appreciate you putting this together.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

I had to Alex. We all go through the same stuff. I've felt the exact same way, but gotta keep the creative juices flowing. This was a fun task for sure.

[@MrGonysound]

Bro, this sh!T hits home…. I take so many self portrait and for some reason I never feel comfortable sharing them. Thank you for making this video as always very educational and informative!

[@MikeGrayFilm]

You got this! I really appreciate it man.

[@silvercyclists3462]

Great! Really inspiring. Terrific images.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Thank you man

[@Der_Marc]

Everytime a inspiration Mike. Thanks

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Thanks so much.

[@duprebushnell2488]

great job my man! got some banger selfies in here for sure. Vivian is def the selfie goat imo

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Appreciate it!!

[@joerglemann]

Gorgeous work, Mike … like it very much 👏🏻😀

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Thanks a lot!

[@tylershieldsvideos]

Awesome

[@MikeGrayFilm]

My brother!

[@rasmus6707]

Good work as always Mike!

[@MikeGrayFilm]

I appreciate that

[@jasonhughes8013]

Another great video and inspirational. Doing self portraits allows you to practice different lighting techniques and if it goes wrong you've not lost anything were as with a model you have to re-arrange the shoot. Applause for using the Hasselblad and film, some brilliant photographs taken and narrative captured.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Thanks so much Jason. I appreciate it.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Great job! The nice thing about using those kinds of backdrops is you can use a smaller aperture to get sharp focus on your subject and the background will still look diffused.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Very true! Thank you.

[@d.idowuolutosin4250]

Mike, love the vulnerabilities expressed in this video. I've been experimenting with self portraits and studio lighting which is entirely outside my wheelhouse. I'm a natural light outdoors photographer when it comes to people. The only time I have done studio lighting is when I used to do food and product photography. I posted a few self portraits on IG, that I honestly didn't care for but I wanted to see what other people thought. The responses were a mixed bag between IG and Facebook. Only one person gave me a real critique and this person is a world renowned photographer. Keep experimenting, I sure will until I get results I'm happy with.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Absolutely bro. Keep em coming 🙏🏾

[@AdrianBacon]

Many years ago before KZbin was really a thing, I hosted and produced several technology podcasts (almost 20 years ago now that I think about it), and jumped into video when it started to become popular, and yes… hosting and self producing is pretty hard to do compared to having a camera man shoot you while you do your thing, so hats off to you for doing it, and keep it up. Do more of it.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

I appreciate that Adrian! 🙏🏾

[@Redfox_UK]

Hats off to you on this video. You should be proud of what you achieved in this. So difficult to do self portraits and I prefer the raw feel to the video. Very motivating 👍🏻

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Thanks a lot!

[@honestpat7789]

I tried this recently on my 4x5. I didn’t have an extension tube, which I regret now. Instead I used a 15 sec self timer. No flash. Framing and angles is far and away the hardest part and I reckon you did a great job 👏

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Thanks a lot!

[@christophkozub4077]

This is an awesome content, intended to do it myself but I end up behind and not in front of the camera all the time; the slow mellow music fits well, great work Mike!

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Thank you Chris!

[@jayse1195]

The sideways Black panther shot is killer. Takes guts to take truly honest self portraits. Great video sir.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Thanks a lot

[@ejacks3]

Brother Gray, great captures of yourself!!! I hate pictures of myself but You inspired my project for next weekend. A series of self-portraits. PEACE ☮

[@MikeGrayFilm]

I love it. Thanks a lot!

[@tysmith924]

I been planning and thinking of doing self portraits than I seen you post this video. Awesome job on your photos their a lot better than what some of mine look like.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

I appreciate it bro

[@NunoAlmeidaPhotography]

Great job Mike, well done.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Thanks a lot Nuno

[@nickapagan]

Might need to try something like this w/ this bronica I picked up

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Do it 👌🏾

[@seanimal_rex]

Subscribed to see these risks taken!

[@MikeGrayFilm]

I love that. Thank you!

[@dirksparenberg294]

Great Video again , Mike. I took a self-portrait with an auto focus camera eos 30 on film, taking a double exposure. And it works at f5.6. However, I also tried it with a 4/5 inch and an instant back. This was hard as there were so many mistakes you could make, and there was no photo that worked as planned. However, I got one sharp, but only half of me was in the frame ... what I quite like, although it was shot accidentally.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

I love that!

[@chilezp]

Mikey oh Mike! 😍😍

[@shaunmaddox]

Dope video! I personally dread taking pictures of myself. I’m not the selfie guy so I have selfies that will never see the light lol. The one with you covering your eye was super dope, it shows personality (like a moment of disruption). Kind of reminds me of a Man Ray portrait. On the other hand, the portrait of you in a suit looking forward presents a serious presentation.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Thanks Shaun haha I already know how that is. I had to force myself to take these!

[@jessk4296]

The photos came out great by the way! I love the black panther one👏🏽🙌🏽 As photographers & artists we criticized ourselves way too much big up to putting yourself out there.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Thanks Jess!

[@727foxtree]

This video is great man. Very good job! I have to say, too, that your work is always super solid and inspiring. I appreciate the honesty of all this too. One thing that trips me up with film and supplemental lighting - especially flash (since I don't own a continuous light) is if you want a certain drama to the lighting (the depth of shadows and how they relate to the highlights). Do you meter the highlights, then meter the shadow, and see how they relate to each other? I guess a lighting ratio?? For instance if you wanted to achieve a light ratio that might be more Rembrandt, versus something else? Without the aid of a digital camera, knowing with some confidence how things will turn out seems complicated to me. Do you have any advice? Is it just sell the strobe and buy a continuous? Sorry to ramble - either way - thank you sharing this with everyone.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

I really appreciate it!

[@NirmalveerSingh]

mother flipping amazing

[@MikeGrayFilm]

haha thank you.

[@jacobep27]

I love self portraits ! I use my canon m50 with a 15-45 mm lens

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Thanks Jacob!

[@BudParr]

Those are great, thanks! I like the look with the backdrop? What is the backdrop you’re using?

[@MikeGrayFilm]

I bought the fabric from Home Depot and painted it myself!

[@juiceplanet147]

This gives me Gordan Parks vibes. Nice work.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

i love that. Thank you!

[@neil_armweak]

Notes after this video: 1. I have to take more self portraits 2. I have to pack more weights

[@MikeGrayFilm]

hahahaha i love it

[@sarajsalem]

Hi Mike, do you mind sharing the link to the shutter release cable? I've been looking for this forever

[@florianstasch3075]

Thank you for the video! Is there a specific way you made sure that the focus is critical?

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Thank YOU! I placed a small iPhone tripod on top of the stool I sat on & focused on it as best as I could.

[@MrHaydnSir]

love it ✌️

[@MikeGrayFilm]

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@thenotred]

It's been almost 4 years since I left the film camera space. Thinking about getting back into it

[@MikeGrayFilm]

do it!

[@lensman5762]

The one with the profile in B&W @ 3:40, is really effective. I'd have this one printed with a Platinum/Palladium process. There are ways of introducing some Wet Plate effect as well, which I think would suit the mood of the photograph. Very well done.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Really awesome man. Thanks! I also LOVE platinum palladium prints 👌🏾

[@lensman5762]

I forgot to add, that this video was a breath of fresh air ( I am sure that you know what I mean). You do have a talent for proper photography. Carry on.@@MikeGrayFilm

[@bendeguznyiro4292]

How do you focus this time, when you take photos of yourself? Do you put there some kind of item before you sit there?

[@MikeGrayFilm]

I had a mini stand I sat on top of the stool and focused as best as I could on it.

[@davidknight6981]

Listen Mike, first things first. You can't be skipping days going to the gym. You don't want to wind up like me, with man boobs. I let my body get out of shape so bad, that at work, when I took off my shirt in the locker room, the guys looked at my back, and named me Fat Back. You don't want that. Now, as for the self portraits, very nice. Good stuff. Keep going dude.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Hahahaha I’m sure you’re just fine bro but thank you!

[@doctorstrobe]

The one at 2:38 is awesome

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Thanks!

[@monsieurgolem3392]

Does the hasselblad need film to fire? Just got mine and it stopped firing after 5 minutes.

[@MikeGrayFilm]

It doesn’t!

[@photo5555]

Gooooood job Mike, what film did you use? :)

[@MikeGrayFilm]

thanks a lot. I used Portra 800 and switched things up in post of course!

[@photo5555]

@@MikeGrayFilm thank you very much :)

[@florianstasch3075]

What constant light did you use?

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Arri orbiter 👌🏾

[@seanimal_rex]

Don’t worry, I missed gym day for like 800 days in a row now

[@MikeGrayFilm]

Hahaha

[@aindoorsman]

兄弟你这肌肉练得真棒。羡慕

[@MikeGrayFilm]

lol!