Reflected Light: A Self-Portrait

Here's a beginning of a new project! Upon researching other photographers, I came to find, to my delight, that I'm not the only one that enjoys taking self-portraits. Apparently it's like a thing. Some embark on 365 day Self-Portrait Projects! Imagine that? Imagine how much you would have to stretch yourself and your creativity to come up with an idea to take a self-portrait every single day. Yikes! I don't think imma try that just yet but here beginneth my own little Self-Portrait Project.

Why?

Because I need to challenge myself and keep clicking even when I don't feel there's anything going on in particular or that I have any challenging subjects. A while ago I read some interesting insights into the value of creating self-portraits.

Here's one:


"One thing to consider, whenever you feel like you have "nothing" to shoot or create; you always have yourself as a subject. That is the beauty of a self portrait. And when we take a self portrait, we are forced to look at ourselves with new eyes... with honest eyes. I believe it is in these beautiful moments of looking within that we discover truths about who we are, our desires, our fears, our hurts, our passions & our deepest longings."


- Sarah Rhoades

And another one:

"I think there's value to be had in photographers turning the camera on themselves. I believe every photographer who takes your picture captures something unique about you that is unique to them and their ability to document people. For some it's a particular way they smile... for others, maybe a look in the eye they make often but never seen memorialized in a frame. Certain people coax those traits out of us better than others."

- Gail Werner (Check out Gail's Self-Portrait project on her blog!)

Reason enough? Well, besides the interesting insights, I simply enjoy taking self-portraits and now I have an excuse to showcase what I come up with and so I'm gonna grab hold of it and run! :P

Initially I thought I'd do only reflections because I love love love reflections but I think trying to find makeshift tripods, setting up a shot, positioning myself in time for the shutter might be a tad more interesting and challenging so here we go and stay tuned for more!

#1 Reflected Light. This is something that I want to master.
Finding ambient light and using it. There's just nothing like it!

p.s. another cool link: The Self-Portrait Project