Comfort zone

I am fortunate enough to have tried various genres and types of photography during my time at college. In doing so I found there were things I liked and things I didn’t, genres I was ok with and genres I wasn’t ok with. I found that I enjoyed portraiture and developed a keen interest, this was a genre I wasn’t originally keen on. I always thought I wasn’t much of a people person and yet I found that when behind the camera I loved people. Each person with their own expressions, their own character and mood helps make every image unique and I love that each one tells its own story.

Since leaving college I have concentrated solely on portraiture and unable to capture peoples portraits right now I have been pushed to explore other ideas. Ive been looking on social media at other photographers work and what’s been keeping them active during lockdown. In doing so I’ve found that self portraits are quite popular, this may be because its achievable within the house, photographers can be really creative or it may be that it’s easier to instruct ones self than instructing another person. Whatever the reasons were I did think about giving it a bash.

Anyone that knows me well, will know that I love a selfie. I have no issues taking a selfie, I’ve perfected the angle over the years lol, I know my best side and I’m fond of a filter or two to hide every insecurity.

The camera on the other hand is not my friend and I have never been comfortable having my picture taken. The stress of no filters and every flaw being magnified freaks me out, I know how I look when I look in the mirror but I really do prefer the catfish look, lol. All that aside I have enough knowledge within photoshop to create a flawless look so I did eventually decide to give self portrait a bash. I chose to concentrate on my favourite type of photography…..close up portraiture, and have included the final result below…

This image was taken during the first Scottish lockdown and has a wee story. I felt it was appropriate to capture a self portrait with a wee creative touch that would incorporate the lockdown that we were all living in. I know by now we are all sick of hearing about covid 19 but its taken over life as we know it and its hard not to talk about, sorry. The title of the image is…. “Inside looking out” the title speaks for itself really. I’m portrayed as being inside and looking out through a gap in an ajar door or through a gap in the curtains, the list could go on but the message being Stay home, stay safe.

My second attempt at a self portrait (captured during the 2nd Scottish lockdown) wasn’t creative in the slightest and I found myself just taking extremely close up portraits and using shadows and highlights to enhance the overall look.

Im going to be honest and it may hold me back due to lack of subjects with this current situation, but sadly Self portrait isn’t for me. I didn’t enjoy this type of photography and I’m far too critical as it is without being in the image myself. It was now time to explore other ideas ☺️ watch this space.

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