Can a Photo of Oneself Be a Candid?

[tom_thumbnail]

<p>Can a photo a person takes of themself ever be considered "candid?"</p>

[Matt Laur]

<p>It can look like one to someone who doesn't now how it was produced. But I'd say... no.</p>

[f_r2]

<p>If someone else took the photo of one, then yes. ;)</p>

[richterjw]

<p>Not if it's taken intentionally. JR</p>

[richard_shewmaker1]

<p>From:<br>

http://www.merriam-webster.com</p>

<p> </p>

<dl><dt >Main Entry:</dt><dd ><strong>can·did</strong><strong> </strong></dd><dt >Pronunciation:</dt><dd >\ˈkan-dəd\</dd><dt >Function:</dt><dd ><em>adjective</em></dd><dt >Etymology:</dt><dd >French & Latin; French <em>candide,</em> from Latin <em>candidus</em> bright, white, from <em>candēre</em> to shine, glow; akin to Welsh <em>can</em> white, Sanskrit <em>candati</em> it shines</dd><dt >Date:</dt><dd >1606</dd></dl>

1<strong>:</strong> <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white">white</a> <<em>candid</em> flames>2<strong>:</strong> free from bias, prejudice, or malice <strong>:</strong> <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fair">fair</a> <em>candid</em> observer>3 a<strong>:</strong> marked by honest sincere expression <em>candid</em> discussion> b<strong>:</strong> indicating or suggesting sincere honesty and absence of deception <em>candid</em> face> c<strong>:</strong> disposed to criticize severely <strong>:</strong><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blunt">blunt</a> <<em>candid</em> critics><strong>4</strong><strong>: relating to or being photography of subjects acting naturally or spontaneously without being posed</strong>

 

<strong><br /></strong>

So, the question is can you take a photo of yourself without posing. I doubt it.

 

[ray .]

<p>Yes it can be candid. One of the first assignments I had as a photography student (a long time ago) was to do a self-portrait. I set a camera and tripod up with a hilly landscape behind me, and tried to pose. Every pose I took seemed silly, and I finally got a little tired of the whole project, just wanting to be done with it. By the last shot I had lost interest in posing, and just folded my arms around my legs in a sitting position and rested my head on my knee. It was the shot I used for the assignment because it seemed the most natural. I think it was really pretty candid. I've taken some more self portraits since then, and often I look into the camera asking what it will tell me. I think that's in a way very much candid. </p>

<p>You could also set a camera up so that the shutter would fire at intervals, then forget for whatever reason the camera was there, and that certainly would also be candid.</p>

[sd_woods]

<p>Of course it can.</p>

[ds_meador]

<p>If you take a picture that includes a reflective surface and catch yourself in the photo unintentionally, would that not be a candid appearance? Or, are you talking specifically about a camera perched on something aimed at oneself? That could be harder, but I still think it is possible.</p>

[Sanford]

<p>Absolutely! I have several photos of myself working as a warehouseman in a warehouse many years ago. The Olympus XA was set on the self timer so I didn't know the exact moment it fired off. Very depressing shot with a green glow - couldn't believe it was me. It's a slide sitting somewhere in a binder so I can't post it here. I should get my slide scanner up and running so I can show the old stuff.</p>

[newbie1]

<p>Be very specific as to your own description or definition of candid. Precisely.</p>

[jim_momary]

<p>Heck, I surprise myself all the time with the dumb stuff that I do. Webster's aside, here's a semi-candid from my youth of our stick ball team on the corner of Broad and Chestnut in old Philthydelphia. Those were the days, until we got sent up to juvie hall ...<br>

Jim</p><div></div>

[jpo3136b]

<p>Yes. You know all of those photos where the guy sets up the camera on self timer and doesn't get back in the picture in time? Self-portrait candid. </p>

[CosteaM]

<p>If someone else took the photo of one, then yes. ;)<br>

that would a candid portrait not a candid photo of themself (self portrait).<br>

Can a photo a person takes of themself ever be considered "candid?"<br>

yes, if you fell asleep while posing... :-)</p>

[CosteaM]

<blockquote>

<p>Yes. You know all of those photos where the guy sets up the camera on self timer and doesn't get back in the picture in time? Self-portrait candid.</p>

<p>John, define candid. What you describe is you posing.</p>

</blockquote>

[charles_stobbs3]

If you didn't know it was loaded and were just exercising the shutter.

[gordonjb]

Yes, but only if your short term memory is fried. You could try smoking a lot of pot beforehand and maybe you'll forget what it was you were doing.

[Sanford]

<p>Anytime you go just about anywhere in the US you are tripping a security camera somewhere so in essence you are taking a candid photo of yourself. </p>

[GerrySiegel]

<p>If you know a camera is aiming at you, who doesn't suck in one's gut or stand a bit taller. In that sense, candid would be stretching meaning of candid. For what that answer is worth. Now, more interesting Q, what prompted you to you ask, Tom?.</p>

[rick_williams6]

<p>If you are aware the photo is about to be taken, then no.</p>

[patrick j dempsey]

<p>It is when I'm drunk enough.</p>

[roger krueger]

Camera accidentally fired in my lap while I was trying to diagnose an intermittant autofocus problem between sets of a show.

<br><br>

<img src="http://www.punktures.com/photonet/CasbahHeadshotYW1C8113.jpg">

<br><br>

I discovered the lens was somehow not solid in the mount, so I took it off and put it on more firmly...causing $250 damage to

the camera. The locating screw had fallen out of the lens, allowing it to over-rotate on mounting. Which in turn lets

you trash a little switch in the camera's lensmount. Camera still worked, but no communication with any lens, so I had to

shoot the headliner manual focus+wide open.

[cyr_smith]

 

<h1>Can a Photo of Oneself Be a Candid? </h1>

<p>Really, what a ditzy question. Next you'll be contemplating your navel.....</p>