Pages

Friday, March 21, 2014

Self Portrait

I took this photo with my iphone and used the apps: Camera+, FocalLab and Mextures.


‘The human body is the best work of art.’  – Jess C. Scott


‘Your are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed.  And you are beautiful.’ – Amy Bloom


‘Everybody has a part of her body that she doesn’t like, but I’ve stopped complaining about mine because I don’t want to critique nature’s handiwork… My job is simply to allow the light to shine out of the masterpiece.’ – Alfre Woodard

 

I always cringed whenever an art teacher expected a self portrait.  Why in the world would I want to make a portrait of myself?  Why would I want to document my big slightly crooked nose, uneven skin, pimples, little eyes, uneven smile, knobby knees, cellulite dimples, and wrinkles? 

Despite all that, I signed up for Susan Tuttle’s online workshop The Art Of iPhoneoraphy Self-Portraiture.   I wanted to learn about the apps she uses.  I thought the information would be good for landscapes and flowers, I had no intention of taking a self-portrait.

Well that changed.  

I took this photo with my iphone and use the apps: Camera+, FocalLab and Mextures.  I then felt it needed a little softening and I knew the Kim Klassen texture sybil would be perfect.  I used the app Image Blender to add the texture.  

I wanted to try out some of the apps and techniques that Susan teaches in her workshop on a person.  My daughter wasn’t a willing model, so I bought a tripod adapter for my iphone.  I set the timer, took a few pictures and began creating on my iphone.   I became hooked. 

Not only is it a new creative endeavor, it is also a lesson for me in self acceptance.  I close my critical eye and open my photographer’s eye.  I look at Me with the same awe and amazement I give a butterfly’s nose or a flower’s pollen.  I don’t compare one butterfly’s nose to another, or say this flower is better because it has more pollen.  I appreciate their uniqueness, different colors, shapes and sizes, one not better than the other, but each individually a beautiful creation.  At that moment, I accept me as a unique individual too, exactly how I am. 

I encourage you to take a self portrait and celebrate your unique beauty too.  You Are Beautiful! 

Today I am joining Kim Klassen’s Friday Finds.  
Thank you for stopping by!!
Have a great weekend!
Michelle


Kim Klassen dot Com



20 comments:

  1. hi Michelle ... your photos are beautiful! I am in Susan's class also ... but i have not ventured as far as you have .... you have inspired me to be brave and point the camera inwards. Just stunning!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Michelle ... you ARE beautiful and I think what you've done here with your new found knowledge and skills is wonderful! My big hangup with self-portraits is the time it takes. Patience is not my strong suit for that particular thing. But when I'm shooting flowers, my patience becomes a virtue.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my goodness! These are beautiful portraits (but you are beautiful)! I am taking that class too but I've not progressed very far...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, Michelle, these are gorgeous ... great edits !
    Lovely you ... my favorite is the first one, so love that pretty dress !
    Enjoy Susan's class...
    Nice weekend,
    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  5. That last one, I love it! I have a prompt coming up for Photo Art Friday which is selfie and how I dread it...but your words were piercing today and I've written in the past about how we would never want or think about changing the sunrise, and that we shouldn't try to change others either...but I never included myself in "those others." Thank you for this today! xo

    ReplyDelete
  6. EXCELLENT!! My GorillaPod iPhone Stand came yesterday, excited to give it a try. I have started on the Susan Tuttle videos, but still more to go. I didn't want to invest in the tripod mount yet, since I will be getting a new phone later this year.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow, this is cool!
    I did not know anything about Iphone Photography and Susans workshop.
    Very very interesting...the pictures (both) are absolutely great!
    Thanks for showing, Michelle!
    Have a nice weekend,
    Brigitte

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great Both of them! love the texture processing on the first one!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Goodness me, do I appreciate your *pep talk* about indulging in self portraits. I too, have signed up for Susan's class with the same non-intention of doing selfies ... but I too, am feeling that change. Thank you for this wonderful post! and I really love your photos ;>]]

    Christi

    ReplyDelete
  10. I thought of taking this class, but had too much on my plate. After seeing your self portraits, I definitely want to try. These are beautiful works of art.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi! visiting from friday finds and your newest follower! amazing pictures!! i can't wait to see what you'll learn in Susan's class!
    and great words... i have to keep them in mind!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm also taking the class. But I haven't gotten brave enough to do a self portrait yet. I think I'll start with a hand...LOL! Your picture is great. I look forward to seeing more.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh my. How gorgeous! Makes me want to take the class. You are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love the pictures!
    Your words, pictures and you are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  15. another bunch of apps I need to check out!

    ReplyDelete
  16. These are both gorgeous, Michelle! And great edits too. :)
    Thanks for the beautiful quotes, too.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Exquisite self portraits, Michelle!

    ReplyDelete