Self Portrait at Ariel Sharon Park From RAW to Warm Morning

Ariel Sharon Park Morning Self Portrait

Photography Tools

This three-image set was created at Ariel Sharon Park in Tel Aviv-Yafo and it is both a personal check in and a small technical exercise.
Why this spot?
I stay in the close by area and feel special connection to this park
It's big, at the edge of the city, yet close by to everything.
The time was around 11 am, so the light still reads as morning, soft and even rather than dramatic.
I wanted a calm self portrait that felt grounded in the place without turning the background into a postcard.
The trees and the distant skyline give context, but the mood is carried by posture, expression, and simple shapes.
I photographed this with the Canon EOS R5 Mark II and the EF70-200mm f2.8L IS III USM, working at 75mm, 1/1250 sec, f2.8, ISO 160 in manual exposure.

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The RAW frame shows the scene with a neutral palette and a gentle separation between subject and background.
I did not use a tripod for this session.
Instead, I placed the camera on a bench in the park and worked with a stable, low profile setup that kept the process simple.
That choice influenced the final framing, because I had to compose around the bench height and keep my pose consistent between attempts.
The trees on the right side create a natural vertical rhythm that balances the open space on the left.
The skyline sits softly in the distance, and the shallow depth of field at f2.8 keeps it present but not loud.
At this stage I look for clean skin tones, controlled highlights, and a background that supports the story without demanding attention.
The black shirt helps anchor the frame and keeps the portrait from drifting into the pale sky and soft greens.
Most importantly, the RAW already feels like a real photograph, which means the edit can focus on taste rather than rescue.

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The Canon DPP4 version is my disciplined base edit, where I prioritize clarity and balance over style.
This stage tightens the portrait and gives the face a little more presence without pushing contrast too far.
I keep the colour neutral here so the skin remains realistic and the background does not shift into an artificial look.
With self portraits, a reliable base is crucial because the subject and the editor are the same person, which makes it easier to overcorrect small insecurities.
A clean technical pass helps me trust the file and treat the next step as a creative decision instead of a reaction.
The morning light at 11 am supports this approach, since it is even enough to preserve detail in both skin and landscape.
The DPP4 result is the image I would be comfortable sharing even if I stopped the process here.
That is my best test for whether the workflow is working as intended.

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The final edit, used as the featured image, adds warmth while keeping the scene natural and believable for a late morning portrait.
I wanted the colour to feel like a quiet emotional lift rather than a dramatic mood shift.
The warmth is subtle in the sky and the path, and it supports the skin tones without turning them orange.
Because I was using a bench instead of a tripod, the simplicity of the setup also shaped the editing mindset.
I wanted the final look to reflect that same simplicity, clean, calm, and intentional.
This three step sequence is also a starting point for a new self portrait series aimed at building confidence through consistent practice.
I like the idea of returning to similar light and similar compositions and letting improvement show through small technical refinements over time.
If you enjoy these workflow notes, more edit focused writing coming soon to my Photography Tools category.
For this post, I am keeping the images as blog special pieces, so the focus stays on process, choice, and the quiet story of a morning in Ariel Sharon Park.

Amir
Photographer, Builder, Dreamer
amir2000.nl