Matt Roth » self portrait

Scary Self Portraits, Part 2. The importance of mood.

Matt Roth — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:22:11 +0000

I recently realized that I when I listen to music I respond waaaayyy more to the mood a song creates than I do to its lyrics. I always hear how the vocals are sung and never hear what’s being said. Maybe that’s why I like metal?

It didn’t take too long for me to understand I react the same way to photographs.

And as you know, light controls most of the mood of a photo. Sure, so does body language, but when the two meet…

So, these are test shots. I was working on super controlled, film noirish lighting. Like the first Scary Self Portrait post I wanted the eyes to go entirely black, with the exception of two small, piercing, catch lights, made, this time, with an underpowered, tightly gridded monolight. The key light in the above photo is pointed down, off my right shoulder.This picture only uses one gridded mono light, positioned directly underneath my camera & pointed up. The grid is so tight & focused none of the shadow hits the wall.This one is the combination of the two. and as a bonus, here’s me in a luchador mask.

What in the world is wrong with me?

Matt Roth — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:10:34 +0000

Yup. this is what sometimes happens when I try a new lighting set up and no one else is around. enjoy!

The El Mateo!

Matt Roth — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 04:59:56 +0000

The El Mateo!
Luchador mask courtesy of the limited edition “Weird Sports” book by Sol Neelman.

Check it out: I’m in good company.

Scary Scary Self Portrait

Matt Roth — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 18:05:38 +0000

I FINALLY got some new mods for my Paul C. Buff Einstein — an 11″ Long Throw Reflector and two grids. I went from having only a mini-sun to also shaping my light with something highly directional. The idea was to create a dark dark photo. Something moody with deep deep shadows. That’s easy. I just positioned my Einstein about six inches above my head and pointed it down. …I wanted more diffused light, than direct light, so I aimed the light at my feet, rather than at my face.

The thing that makes this image more sinister is the catch light in my eyes. That’s the subtle, yet HUGE difference between a blacked-out eye area and eyes that stare.

How’d I get a catch light? I used my Sb-800 and the principles of On-Axis Fill lighting. I dialed it down practically all the way, and pointed directly at my eyes — which is still bright. I didn’t want to light up my eyes. I just wanted them to have a dark, piercing quality. So, instead of seeing into the shadows (an objective of on-axis fill), it’s like the shadows are watching you!

Next time I try this look, I’m gonna use one of those speedlight ringflash adapters, just to make the catch light a tad bit bigger, and maybe I’ll add some eye drops to enhance the eyeballs’ reflective qualities. As it is, I think it’s a bit too subtle.

Self Portrait… ish.

Matt Roth — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 14:43:52 +0000

Okay. I’m a little narcissistic.

I have a lot of pride

…in how I light stuff.

But I wanna get better. Admittedly, I have a few weaknesses. One of which is making a scene not look …uh, lit.

weird, right?

I also have a harder time lighting indoors than I do blasting my subjects in front of an epic, Armageddon-esque, under-exposed sky.

I need to up my finessing skills.

So, the other night I practiced. I was all by myself so I used me as the subject. I’m staying at my Mom and Rick’s place, which has a sun-rooom adjacent to the living room. The layout is shaped like a backwards, upside down “L.” The back wall is lined with windows. So, I pointed my 86″ Parabolic out through the windows in the living room, and I stood in the sunroom facing the parabolic, and put the camera on a tripod and timer.

And I figured if I was going to make a picture, I’d like it to evoke some kind of emotion. …even if the emotion is absurdly emo.

But like anyone, I like flattering photos of me. And I think I look pretty good in this shot. Trust me, there are plenty of not so flattering shots left on the “cutting room floor.”

So, here ya go! …hooray for narcissism!

After 33 years I’m Still A Kid

Matt Roth — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:05:51 +0000

Instead of crashing on someone’s couch or …worse yet, a bathtub, for my 33rd birthday in Athens, GA, I decided to spring for a hotel room at the Holiday Inn Saturday, August 6, 2011. So, while I was waiting for Logan King and Melissa Holmes to get ready for dinner, I made some …uh, self portraits.

…of me bouncing on the bed.

“Who Is That On Your ID?” …oh, & I quit my job, too.

Matt Roth — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 22:05:17 +0000

“That doesn’t look like you!” and “Who is that on your ID?” I get that a lot when people see the picture on my laniard. This image was made back in 2004 by fellow intern Deana Mitchell. I was having a hard time looking “normal” that day, so I decided to look “smarmy,” instead. Since then, I’ve gained a few pounds, had lasik surgery, and, I wish I could say my hair’s gotten better, but it hasn’t. …well, it’s had its moments. — and by the way, that is NOT a goatee. That’s a chin shadow. But it does make me look extra chotchy, no?

Sadly(-ish), Wednesday, December 15, 2010, was the last day I’d wear my weirdo laniard, — well, legitimately, anyway. I quit my staff job! I’m now a freelancer. …although, I kinda take issue with the word “freelancer.” I prefer the term “independent photographer.” I’ll discuss that in a later post, I’m sure.

Lets all be honest here — It’s not a very good “Press Badge,” is it? There’s been a few times in my six year career when this ID has raised a few eyebrows and in rare instances, denied me access.

Lets break down its faults. For one, it doesn’t actually say “Press.” hrmmm… But, for some reason, It’s kinda perfect for someone working in the business end of the newspaper. You know, the people who don’t really leave the building, work with subjects, or do any kind of reporting. The coin counters. The people pushers. Those most concerned with page clicks. …isn’t that telling? And I know you might find this hard to believe, but “Patuxent Publishing Company” doesn’t exactly sound like a newspaper organization, either.

THEM: “So, who are you with? The Sun?”

ME: hehehe. No, I’m with the red headed stepchild of the Sun, The Patuxent Publishing Company.

THEM: Gazunetite!

ME: No. I didn’t sneeze. that’s the name of the accredited news organization I work for. …what? …you haven’t heard of us?” — and then I have to rattle off all the 20 different newspapers, magazines, and PHONE BOOKS we publish. Yes. We publish phone books. (Argh! I keep doing that! They publish phone books).

Lastly, I also don’t like it when people call me “Matthew.” That name is reserved for my tax forms, social security card, and my Dad. Not strangers. It’s common courtesy people. When you meet someone, figure out how they like to be addressed. They’ll tell you right off the bat.

But I don’t hate my ID. It’s served me well. Admittedly, I look ridiculous. – that’s kinda by design. And that’s why I’ve kept it so long. How many people have laniard stories? I have a bunch — Sure, they’re all very similar, (read the first sentences) but those interactions serve an important purpose: as an ice breaker! It can help tell the subject who I am. On first glance, I’m some beardy dude walking into your house/place of business or up to you on the street — with cameras, no less! And for better or worse, my job is to put you in the public eye.

Its only natural that my subjects try to get to know me a little bit. Lets face it, they’re as curious about us as we are (supposed to be) about them. In this business, access is won with give and take, right? The same way I’ve learned to not turn down a glass of water or a cup of coffee, I’ve learned to indulge my subjects’ questions. The bottom line is, I do my job better when the subjects are comfortable with me. So, if they ask me questions, or comment on my ridiculous laniard picture, its an opportunity for a conversation. Even without the laniard, I’ll still be able to muster up conversations with subjects. That’s the kinda guy I am. As my mom says,”I’ve never met a stranger.”

And as outdated and weirdly unflattering as that picture is of me, its a pretty accurate portrait of my personality. Not that I’m a smarmy person, but that I’m easy going, and able to laugh at myself. And I think that has a relaxing effect for subjects — at least in some situations.

But beyond the picture, my ID gave me legitimate status as a member of the press. It’s amazing how fast people will wave you in to something when you hold up a laniard and say, “I’m with the press.” Well, the cameras probably helped too. I’ll be honest, losing that instantaneous legitimacy is a big worry of mine for the future. I’m still a journalist, but now I’m not tied to an organization. My association changes day to day. When I’m not shooting for a client, I worry people won’t take me as seriously without my laniard.

THEM: “So… where’s this going again?”

Me: Uh… mattrothphoto.com/blog …that’s my blog.

Them: “uh huh. No. I’m not gonna give you my name. In fact I’m gonna call the cops.”

Yikes! Does that make me a blogger?

I guess I could make my own “Press ID.” That feels kinda cheesy, though. I’ll probably pony up a few bucks and become credentialed by the Baltimore City Police Department as a member of the Press. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m no longer tied to an accredited news organization. And while being independent is exciting, it’s also a little scary.

Like badges are to cops, Press credentials are part of a journalist’s identity. They have this amazing ability to summarize our purpose for being wherever we are, while presenting us in polemic ways. They can “get us in” just as easily as they can “keep us out.” In our subjects’ eyes, credentials make us trustworthy just as easily as they make us suspect. And depending on which organization we work for, we get treated differently.

THEM: “Now, which newspaper are you with?”

ME: “The North County News.”

THEM: “Oh good! I love that paper. hahahaha! I’d turn you around if you said you were with the Sun.”

Belonging to a news organization has its perks. But it’s also filled with heartbreak.

So… I’m ready to take the laniard off.

Don’t Step to this!

Matt Roth — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:32:19 +0000

(L-R) Marty Day, Nick Borkowicz, and (cough cough) Me. This was shot this back in May, 2006.

We got a wild hair up our asses one night. cheap sunglasses, headbands, and novelty gold medals… boom!

Believe it or not, the structure behind us is — check this out — made of styrofoam!!!!! Marty’s step dad does some styrofoam set building on the side.

I set the camera’s intervalometer to take a photo every 5 seconds. I pocket-wizard’d three Alien Bees to light up the situation, too. The lesson I learned is that a five count is an abnormal rhythm. We were off on most of these photos. So, if I ever do something like this again, I’m setting the camera to take a photo every four seconds.

Test Shot

Matt Roth — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:46:09 +0000

If no one else is around, this is how I sometimes test out my lighting set up.

Truth be told, I had a fun Maryland Family shoot article about old wives tales, specifically about how childrens’ faces are threatened to “stick.”

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Matt Roth — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:59:58 +0000

by the way, these updates are still coming! I know some of you are totally stoked about this, but I’ll bet most of you are getting pretty annoyed. But hang in there, folks! This is my little way of ringing IN the New Year. thanks for sticking with me.

with black eyed peas,

Matt Roth