Starting the Year with a Challenge

One of my goals for this year is to create more amazing photographs - not just shoot more, because anyone can press the shutter button and get 1,000 worthless shots.  The goal is to actually create images that not just impress the people around me, but that impress myself and make me proud.

Just in time, Shoot Miami created the 52 Week Photography Challenge and I accepted.  I figured this would serve as a great guide for me to focus on a theme each week to come up with one great image.

The first week was "Self-Portrait."  Right on target again, because I had been wanting a professional photo for my LinkedIn profile and who better to take it than myself. 

I must admit that at first my idea was to have my camera appear in the picture.  So while visiting PAMM, I found an interesting piece of artwork that let me catch my reflection with my camera.  But I wanted something better.

My reflection on a work of art.

Then I thought maybe the mirror in my living room would make for the perfect reflector and just be my casual self and again include my camera in the image.  And while that was fun, it wasn't something I wanted to submit for the challenge.

Self-portrait at home.

On the night I had to submit my image, I set up my Yongnuo YN 560 III flash remotely with a soft box.  With my camera on a tripod, I tethered it to Lightroom.  This way I wouldn't have to step away from in front of the camera to look at the viewfinder after each picture.  Also, I used a wireless remote shutter release so I wouldn't have to resort to the self-timer.  
So I did my hair, put on makeup, and after three outfit changes I managed to get a few great shots.  The last outfit is the one I liked the most and picked to be the image of the week for the challenge.  This was my first time doing this kind of light setup for myself and I'm ecstatic with the results. 

My official self-portrait.