Today’s prompt in Kat McNally’s Reverb is:
Please post your favourite picture of yourself from 2014, self-portrait or otherwise!
When I was a kid the shaming reproach “me, myself, and I” was bandied about a lot, and I took it deeply to heart. It took me years to unravel that one, but now I celebrate that not only do I really like and say yes to me, but that I encourage others to take exquisite care of their selfhood as well.
Here’s my current favorite selfie:
It makes me laugh because it really does represent me – I’m notorious for cutting images off. And this was an accidental selfie. I was actually trying to take a photo of something in my studio with my iPad, but had the camera pointing the wrong way. Yep, I’m THAT kind of photographer.
In 2013 I started a summer practice of taking a selfie a day, and I have to say it turned out to be a very profoundly healing practice. I went from really hating to see myself in photographs to being really curious about who I really was showing up as. Earlier this year I started a practice of making a card each week which was a kind of journal-y snapshot of the week on one side and a selfie on the other. I wish I had kept the practice up because it’s been fun to look over the “deck.” I think I may incorporate that again in my practices for 2015.
But years before selfies were even remotely popular, I made this papercut selfie of myself for an interview in an artist zine.
I love it and have used the image for years (decades?) now, sometimes even using it as a computer icon.
Computer icon being a nice segue into this next photo of self as icon:
You can read a bit more about why I created it here, but it’s kind of an inspiration and study for a future project I have in mind that hasn’t made it to the work table yet. But it involves exploration of gilded edges, Matryoshka dolls, and what it means to be both human and holy. Maybe 2015 will be the year that unfolds. I’ll let my Muses decide.
In the meantime, I’d love to hear what you think. Are you a selfie taker? Or tired of it all or think it’s hopelessly self-indulgent? Ever created a non-photographic selfie? Think like I do that living a life that’s gilded around the edges is a lovely thing? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
How fun. LOVE your image. Selfies are fun. We know ourselves better than anyone and I feel that selfies allow us to show how we truly feel – not how someone else is seeing us through the lens. 🙂
That’s a wonderful way to look at it Tracy – love it!
You’re amazing!
LOL – thanks Kat. And that’s how I feel about you as well.
I love that idea that selfies can help us improve our own self image …. it might be one to add to my 2015 practices for a while. I hate seeing myself in photos and edit viciously when people post pics with me in them. We were also reprimanded by the “me, me, me” phrase and I’ve found it very hard to shake off – it’s so destructive.
Oh I really do encourage you to play with a selfie practice Fil. I had no idea it would make such a difference for me, but it’s been huge.
How I wish there were a magic vacuum we could use on our brains to pull out all those totally unhelpful messages we’ve accumulated that aren’t supporting us shining.
Some times accidental photos are actually the best. Great selfie!
Indeed. Thanks for stopping by Meredith.
I have a few half-images, too 😉 Loving your icon selfie and what it represents.
It’s kind of fun seeing ourselves in parts isn’t it? 🙂
Due to simply not photographing well, I avoid cameras whenever possible. Instead, I prefer to have artists make drawings of me, which generally bring out my better qualities.
Sounds perfect to me!
I’ve made a cartoon selfie that I love. Will be sharing it soon!
Oh perfect Harmony – can’t wait!