The photographer's Ultimate #Selfie photo shoot Setup

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but training for a half marathon is quite different from training for a 5k. It's like the difference between a Camaro and a Corvette.  The difference between Volkswagen and Porche. The difference between an intern and an employee.I'm serious. You have to put some serious work, time, determination and dedication to train for 13.1 miles. My legs don't lie. I haven't had muscle build up like this in my legs since high school. and because I was feeling extra fit, I decided to do a fitness photo shoot for myself. I call it the photographer's ultimate #selfie photo shoot, but I'm sure someone out there would be able to kick it up a notch with a more expensive camera that has a faster more precise auto focus, strobes instead of speedlights, wireless transmitters with TTL metering... that type of thing. But to be a true self... no assistants. Selfie: Self Portrait.

   

          So, here's how I set up my ultimate selfie photo shoot. After yesterday's 3.75 mile workout I decided to take some pictures of myself.... You like they do for Sports Illustrated... Only, I'd be working by myself. What you see in the picture is:

1. Canon T3i 
2. tripod
3. the 70-200mm 4L lens 
4. The Photix wireless flash transmitter
5.  I used a one flash setup
6.  with an octagonal soft box
7. and last but not least the remote trigger (wired)
8. you also see my Manfrotto sling-type camera bag
9. flash/light stand

    In order to get the look that I wanted, I basically had to set a focus box and finish line for the camera and myself. So, I placed a bag in front of the area that was being exposed by the flash. I focused on the bag and threw the lens into manual focus mode. I set the camera to remote self timer to give myself 10 seconds to get into place. When the button is pressed, a yellow light on the front of the camera will blink to give you a countdown and turn solid three seconds before the shutter is about to fire. After some trial and error, I found that I should take off when the light goes solid. I set the shutter speed at 1/250th of a second. Then pressed the shutter -- wait-- run -- repeat. For some reason Canon only gives you the option to take between 2 and 10 pictures on the remote self timer. So, for each picture taken with the flash there is another picture taken in almost complete darkness.

For full disclosure, those are the best shots. -- here are some of the misses: .. I should've had a video camera rolling for this.