show me yours

GOD this is impossible.

(sighs in disgust, hovers on DELETE)

Screw it. I can't do this. I don't know how anyone does this.

(yanks exposure slider to far right in frustration +3.35 stops)

Hey.

(ups brightness and contrast)  That's kinda cool.

(cools temperature to 2250 - strong blues)  You know, I think that's actually... me.

(opens raw file as JPG)

(fails to resist spot-removing bubonic cold sore with crust like g-d crème brûlée, thanks the gods for digital herpes cure, lifts middle finger to no one in particular in counter-salute to authenticity)

(runs action or two for zip, zing)

(saves)

++++

Something Cheeky is playful. Myinspiredheart and camera shy momma wear hearts on sleeves. Lucrecerb is pure... well, you know. And in those jeans, so does she. Miss 1979 is interpretive. Miss Vivienne gets grassy with her polaroid. Mainemomma revels in her mommahood. Cherryvanillastudios is ‘messy', and sharp.photo is ‘drunk and dressed up'... and fabulous.

There's nothing I admire more than a well-executed, patient, soulful self-portrait - except maybe one that's impulsive and scruffy. Love ‘em all, props to all.

I've shown you mine, this keepsake. Hyper-processed, a slippery slope like that song you adored until the 472nd time you listened to it (and swore you'd never play again). But refreshing, in this rut, for being completely unlike anything I've done before. Reminiscent of the bliss and broodiness of being delicious in stiletto musk perfume, up to my neck in the decadence of my very own hotel room in my very favourite mistress-city.

Show me yours?

Comments

[Sandi]

Here is mine. The "real" me.. no make up...on a quiet Sunday evening.
http://shouldhavebeenacowgirl.wordpress.com/2008/11/03/self-portrait/

[NatureMama]

I'm just getting into the self-portrait idea, but what got me going was frustration at all the pictures of my kids with everyone else, when reality it's me who is always with them. And I want them to remember that some day. There are no pictures of my mom when I was a kid, because she was always behind the camera. That won't be me. So thank you for showing me that it is okay for me to take some of just me. Because it is in these pictures I have taken that I am finally able to look and say, "Hey, that's me. That's who I AM." And I love it, for the first time in a long time. I am finally comfortable in my own skin, and I want to show it more!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturemama/2933939758/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturemama/2859918664/in/set-72157605948350432/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturemama/2971424478/
Taken by my 3 yr. old son, but on my prompting.

[kristin]

thanks kate, i do admire those ladies out there doing those SP's 365 or heck even 52! i find it THE HARDEST SHOT. i like behind not up front. but i must try harder. definitely inspiration and introspection. xoxo
your sp is gorgeous. you look like a mermaid with those blues and greens in your long hair. a gorgeous mermaid.

[leaca]

These are not my greatest show of photography but it really shows off what a klutz I am. =)
http://www.simplyblogged.com/2008/11/selfies.html

[Kirsten]

That is one fine selfie! I love the colors...mmmm blue is my favorite!!

Thanks for the link...and, ladies...if all else fails (or even if you just have a period induced breakout, such as myself) you can always just cut off your head. Not literally of course! ;)


http://www.flickr.com/photos/somethingcheeky/2992279753/

[JustHay]

Ack, self-portraits! :/
You look wonderful, I love high-key.
Here's a recent one of me.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hippyhappyhay/2948494512/

[JeanaMarie]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeanamarie31/2994848402/

at melbourne zoo. maybe next time i won't hide behind the camera?

[nickythomas]

hello shuttersisters

here's a couple of me

one from last night

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickythomasphotography/2997349238/

and one of how people see me1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickythomasphotography/2329757006/

have a lovely day ladies

nicky x

[aveleigh]

Despite the fact that its blurry and slightly askew, I love this picture. I think it looks like a painting.

http://flickr.com/photos/aveleigh/2999099266/

I took it within days of purchasing my first dslr, so I was full of picture taking hope, but had only had the time to experiment indoors. I quickly ran out of things I wanted to photograph, so I decided to face the mirror (and my fear of self-portraits). It's still one of my favourite photos of myself.

That's a lovely picture of you.

[Candy Cook]

My 5 yr old loves to take self-portraits. This one is from his 5th birthday.. It's perfect! I love it.
http://raisingexplorers.wildchildreserve.com/?p=537

[brittany]

i agree with natureMama, mothers rarely get pictures of themselves. i am always the one taking the pictures, but have been making a conscious effort lately to be in some as well. here are a couple from this weekend.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivyerfamily/2992248091/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sivyerfamily/2993094348/in/photostream/

[shelli]

I love your self-portrait!

Back when you had that Mama Focus competition, I began to realize that I should take some photos of myself so that my son would have some of his mother when he grew up!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/spabis/2484140984/in/set-72157605050278706/

And when I got my DSLR, I took a few in the mirror for practice too. :-)

http://web.me.com/pabis/Mama_of_Letters/Camera_Happy/Pages/Nikon_D60.html#40

[ELK]

Kate ~beautiful and truthful ..

day before turning 50:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/2801242745

[Glad Doggett]

Imperfect, but I love it!
http://airynothings.com/2008/11/03/self-portrait/

[Jen]

I just started a sp project through flickr...one sp for the next 363 days!

Here's number 1 taken on Saturday...

http://flickr.com/photos/jenniferleigh1/2992345571/

[camerashymomma]

art is art is art. i love it.
thanks for including me in the props too, these photos are superb! (plus i totally wish i could find a pair of jeans like Lucrecerb!) everyone has a story and it comes through again and again with photography.

[Cartwheels At Midnight/Paige]

This is an extremely cool photo, Kate. Love the processing.

My favorite self-portrait changes with the wind, as does the selfie that best represents me at any given point in time. Today I like this one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cartwheelsatmidnight/2875466985/

Of course, this one screams *me* too:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cartwheelsatmidnight/2333958550/

[renee @ FIMBY]

Ack! self portraits - too hard! Especially when you follow someone like Kirsten at Something Cheeky. That woman has seriously raised the bar. I can't seem to get "me", and I don't have time (because my computer's really slow and well time is just precious) to do post processing to achieve a "look". But these comments have inspired me, maybe one of these days...

[Lu]

Ha!! Ha!! How thrilled am I to be featured in this cool a$$ post?! Thank you much.

[jag]

Yikes. Self-portraits scare me... I started with my feet/shoes, thanks to mainemomma. And just recently, once again inspired by this online community (especially by Something Cheeky!), I thought I'd expand the focus. I felt the need to manipulate the images to reflect how I was feeling that day. The image would likely be different today. And so, this was me:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jagspace/2965712418/in/set-72157606965585684/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jagspace/2964884089/in/set-72157606965585684/

xox

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

This is the only one I've done all year! I loathe photos of myself........I've been thinking that the next challenge needs to be a self-portrait a day to see if I can break free from that issue.

http://366photographicjournal.blogspot.com/2008/09/260-headache.html#links

[spread your wings]

i struggle with this - I don't like photos of myself.

http://autumnsun08.blogspot.com/2008/11/heres-mine.html

[margie]

i posted my self portrait in "margie's" photos on our website. long arms help!!

http://3yrplan.typepad.com/soeursdujour/

[heatherfeather]

I am a self-portrait fanatic. I have never liked a picture anyone else has taken of me, but that could speak as a larger issue, as yet unplumbed.

Here's the one I use because I feel prettier in it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swandive00/2999659348/

Here's the one that I love because it feels more like me:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swandive00/2998820603/

[megan]

here's mine on my birthday last month:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/meganmona/2965496104/

[yellow pooky]

Mine:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yellowpooky/2214826167/

[deezee]

love it. I remain out of the view of my lens. Someday this may change...

[Wanda]

I'd say this falls in the "impulsive and scruffy" category:

http://whatwouldwandado.blogspot.com/2008/11/im-naked-under-camera.html

[Robin]

I have yet to really get one I love.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hismuse/2275067373/

[Jamie]

Here's me....with a side of Oprah:

http://umbrellablog.com/uncategorized/oprah-and-me/

[jennifer]

I am always impressed with w/ others who create great self portraits. Maybe with a little practice I can muster enough courage to tackle one full on. Until then, I prefer to stay on the sidelines. And sneak little pieces of me in.

http://flickr.com/photos/veridianblue/2954806821/

[Jodyangel]

Ouch I am Always on the other side of the camera...always have been. But you challenged me to step outside myself and put myself right out there lol. So I played around with PSP settings. I couldn't replicate your photo (which I think is great) but I came up with some strange effects!

I'm in my PJ's here because I came home this am sick from work. I spent the day in bed. But I finally felt well enough to grab the camera and head for the bathroom mirror lol.

I think THIS one is my fav. I love blue..and I like how my camera stands out from everything else.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/3000727522/

Hmm I might delete this one. Just too bland maybe?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/2999885535/

This is abstract art lol.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/3000727320/

And this..is the original photo =) Pjs and all.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jodyangel/3000720124/

This was fun!!

[Cheryl Doran-Girard]

As with some of the others here, I spend most of the time behind the camera. Quite frankly, it's tough enough seeing myself in the full length mirrors that are the closet doors in my house!!!

My 4-year old grandson, however, has no problem with self-portraits:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheryldoran-girard/2807477218/

[Cocaberries]

I just found shutter sisters and am so excited! I loved looking at all the self portraits on here. Really awesome!
I have three- the standard "me and my camera" and a couple others I took while my boyfriend was living across the country and never got to see me. (He's back now!!)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/2935977788_23c1ea2498_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2930628756_0fe7a4644e_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/2739574754_3c4c408753_o.jpg

[Cocaberries]

oh my goodness... I was totally not thinking when I posted those links. the only thing worse than looking at your own self portraits is looking at them that BIG!!
sorry to anyone who clicked! :)

[Kathleen O.]

I think I posted this one before...not sure. Anyhoo - it's a SP with a little vintage feel. I've been trying to work on self portraits, and this post is inspiring. But aren't they all?! Thanks!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ko2008/2984771055/

[Jeanine]

So very beautiful, Miss Kate. Love the processing.

I can't say that I'm a big of self-portraits - I always find something to be critical about but once in a while I manage to snap a SP that I like. Here's one such shot, capturing my silly side.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15607464@N03/2928360187/in/set-72157603670495631/

[Auntsmack4u]

ive learned to embrace the sp a bit more.. here i am shooting wihile driving and actually smiling!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/auntsue/2676186723/in/set-72157594582865697/

[laura]

here is mine
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adventuresinjuggling/3001341398/

[Just Jinny]

I took a bunch of pics just last week of myself. I was playing with the afternoon light coming in the kitchen window...with the flash, with out the flash, this way and that way.

No make-up, my hair is a mess, and just a little color adjusting:

http://realworldgirl.blogspot.com/2008/11/show-me-yours.html

[Julie Alvarez]

Me, in the light:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2871822666/
Me, working:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2416759142/
Me, relaxing:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2860671937/
Me, with gray thoughts:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2946424474/

[Jessica]

I started following the blog awhile ago, but have never posted my own link, so here is my first time try!

http://pseudored.blogspot.com/2008/11/heres-mine.html

[liz]

self portraits scare me but this was an impulsive click which at the time shocked me but now i kind of like it wrinkles and all. no botox in this house, obviously.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21898841@N08/2462193393/

[Rachel Parton]

I've posted this before, but it's my favorite self-portrait so far. I'm like so many women in that I can look at every picture of me & find something wrong. This one is more "artsy" so there's more to distract me from, well, me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/partonponderings/2733548918/

[julie]

No camera, it's after 10 and I'm still adjusting to no daylight savings time. I much prefer it.
Here's mine....raw and unedited except to fix a very dark photo! Thanks Stacy for helping!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24048695@N04/3000876465/
Julie

[donna]

Your post inspired me to go outside my comfort zone...way outside. I hate having my picture taken which i know is at odds with the fact that I like to take photographs of other people. So I decided to challenge myself with a self portrait..or 3

http://lemondingo.blogspot.com/2008/11/six-things.html

[maggie ann.]

Here is a self-portrait I did tonight, while nourishing my body with dinner:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mostsincerely/3001969672/

[Liz]

i was waiting at home for my boyfriend (at the time) to show up and escort me to a concert...he forgot, no malice, just flakiness. while waiting, i enjoyed the sunny spring light after a long, dark, rainy winter, and played about with my camera. it was a good day.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/2450793334/in/set-72157594587515983/

a little girlier
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/2450793830/in/set-72157594587515983/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/2885778113/in/set-72157594587515983/

summery
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/2648909750/in/set-72157594587515983/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/2972734908/in/set-72157594587515983/

[Secret Agent Mama / Mishelle Lane]

I am forever taking selfy-pees! LOL Selfy-pees. If no one has coined that yet, I will.

I have done the Self Portrait Challenge, as of late:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretagentmama/sets/72157607538344729/

Prior to that I did Project 365:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretagentmama/sets/72157604353847422/

My latest selfy-pee, though, is here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretagentmama/2998457309/

[Kyla]

One step down from a root canal . . . that's how I'd say it feels to take a self portrait. I was at the dentist yesterday for my regular check up, and was brave enough to schedule in 5 fillings for my next appointment . . . so what's a few photos after all? And just out of curiosity . . . what in the world happens to perfectly good teeth after you have kids, anyhow?! Geez FIVE fillings on just one side! I hadn't had a cavity in 15 years! Aw well.

Here's my contribution to your challenge:

http://thekreativelife.blogspot.com/2008/11/self-portraits-of-frumpy-housewife.html