enigmatic

I'm not the best at taking self portraits; I'm perfectly happy being behind the camera, taking pictures of other people, I really am. For those of you who are shy in front of the camera as I am, I have no answers, but I hope that in sharing the process I went through you might find yourself having a go. And trying new things is surely what it's all about.

I started by arranging the room so I had a clear background and changed out of my school drop-off clothes. Putting on a dress helped me feel a little readier for my appointment with the lens, I'm not sure why, it just did. Then I started by taking pictures of my feet, moving to their reflection in the glass. I played around with the composition, the lighting until I felt I was ready to move up a little, taking some pictures of my camera's reflection. Then, making myself comfortable on the floor, I started to take pictures of my reflection, still hiding behind the camera. Finally, and only when I was totally happy, did I peek my head around the camera. I even smiled for that lens. It wasn't too bad, that smiling picture, but it's this one I liked the most. You wouldn't recognise me walking down the street, but I know most of my friends and family could. There's just enough detail there to know it's me and my camera.

And Pixolga has that lovely enigmatic feel in her self-portrait. By moving, she blurs her identity, adding to that air of mystery. Who is she? I asked myself if I would recognise her walking down the street...probably not, but I have a feeling we would get on just perfectly, trying new things.

kirstin of fleeting moments.

spasm by pixolga