Some sort of self portrait...

[CarbonTerry]

It is really a challenge to do a great job in an area that has no interest to you. That's when you will learn something that will stay with you.
I would choose the wide version over the close ups. Its result is to make you a part of the composition that the viewer has to find. In other words you are not hitting them over the head with the technique. You are able to have an overall composition that is more pleasing than "Look at me in the reflection of this thing."
That said, it also depends on what you set out to do.

[Seb]

It is really a challenge to do a great job in an area that has no interest to you. That's when you will learn something that will stay with you.
I would choose the wide version over the close ups. Its result is to make you a part of the composition that the viewer has to find. In other words you are not hitting them over the head with the technique. You are able to have an overall composition that is more pleasing than "Look at me in the reflection of this thing."
That said, it also depends on what you set out to do.

I really appreciate your imput and I will attempt few self portrait later on (I have few concepts in mind but it imply shooting outdoor so I'll wait that our cold canadian winter is over to go for it.

Few things though:
1) as a non portraitist, it seems to me that crafting a succesful close up must be much harder than a "wide version" essentially because I see lesser place for creativity other than working with the lighting (of course, good lighting may be quite hard to get/create but it seems to me that there is not so much room for composition)

2) Overlooking the fact that I have titled this tread "Some sort of self portrait", I would really appreciate to have your opinion on the shots posted here. I mean, I get the feeling that you really don't like these (which is perfectly fine with me, you don't have to like them) but I would like to understand your opinion. It's part of the lurning curve.

regards

Seb