i heart faces | Self-Portrait



Chelsea1wm
(Me, August 2010)
[To go see the other photos for this challenge and leave a comment, go here!]


Self-portraits are rather difficult to do. Whatever people may think, photographers take hundreds of photos and may end up only using one. Like this. I think I took around 50 and decided on this one out of the set. The angle wasn't right, the composition lacking, the lighting a little off. And even though we are our own worst critics, here is this one.

I love self-portraits for the sole reason it attempts to reflect who a person is. I like up-close and personal shots. I don't smooth out flaws. My pores are there along with my sebhorric dermatitis and flecks of mascara. Yet I'm joyful. I'm joyful with my life despite the ups and downs. I'm joyful with Bit of Ivory despite my own self-doubts. I'm joyful with God despite my moments of questioning. I'm joyful with my art despite my limitations. I'm joyful for my future despite the unknowing.

... now if only I could be joyful about the lack of time in a 24-hour day... ;)

- Chelsea :)

16 comments :

  1. This is absolutely beautiful...your photo and your words. :)

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  2. I love that your eyes are smiling too :)

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  3. I love your smile, your eyes, and the very very slight imperfections in your face. :) Beautiful capture!

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  4. Love love love this. Your eyes and smile are so perfect.

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  5. I think this is great! You look happy. and fun. like maybe you're scheming something. : )

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  6. I don't clear up my face either with Photoshop... I've never liked the flawless look. Love the honesty of your photo. Great eyes!

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  7. I agree that the pic is great, as well as the words that go with it!

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  8. You are beautiful! I agree that they are very hard to do though. It is hard for me to look at pictures of myself. Great job!

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  9. Thank you so much, ladies! I really appreciate all your comments! <3

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  10. You are beautiful Chelsea. Very, very beautiful. I love what you wrote. It resonated with me this morning.

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  11. beautiful chelsea! i love the composition and the lighting is perfect. i like how the focus capture the texture of your skin so well. i agree with sugar mama about smoothing out skin makes everyone look porcelain, not that i have not cloned out some pimples here and there.

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  12. I never expected such a wonderful response to my post! I really appreciate the comments! <3 (And Jill, I hear ya about the pimples! I always do the "clearing of the blemishes" for my clients. They aren't definers of who someone is! :D)

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  13. I love this shot. You really are lovely, and your words...right on. I like the close-up a lot. I didn't edit things out on my picture either, but I upped the light. It helps smooth things out. haha What I thought is...the darker the picture (of me), the more I could see and focus the "flaws", but the light made things better. Kind of like the Christian life. :) Like I said, I love this picture, and it is one of my favorites so far.

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  14. I love it. I love that it's so close and personal.

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