I'm Almost Afraid Of Self Portraits

06/11/2003 03:14:34 PM · #1

Here I am already have several self portraits I took this morning to pick from and I know I will have more each day this week and after all the requests for self portraits that were made in the forum and everytime I backed the idea. I'm scared to death to actually submit one of these images into a challenge.

After all for the past year and a half I have concentrated on doing self images for an artist who takes the photos prints them out to 8 x 10 and then does these really cool slapstick paintings of me. Then it suddenly hit me this morning while doing a new series of photos for him how is everyone here going to react to my portrait work.

I know what I am doing is art in a very raw form when I do the images he uses to work from, but at the same time I just don't know if I can really show the real me in self portrait without having some very rude comments left. But I sat here and decided for every rude comment I get here I will have 3 wonderful praising remarks elsewhere with the same style photo.

So I hope everyone is going to just let the real them show in the portraits and remember when voting don't say things you wouldn't want someone to say to you...You know the remarks that actually hurt a persons feelings by saying something about their looks instead of commenting on the actual photography.

Anyhow is anyone else worried about self portraits or am I just letting my vanity show?

I wonder if I should have put this in the rant forum? lol

jerrft

Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3

06/11/2003 03:34:14 PM · #2

Perhaps a silhouette would be more fitting? Ugly doesnâ��t sell - unless there is a freakish quality to it - then it can be quite beautiful.

06/11/2003 03:53:39 PM · #3

Originally posted by jerrft:

Perhaps a silhouette would be more fitting? Ugly doesnâ��t sell - unless there is a freakish quality to it - then it can be quite beautiful.

Freakish is one way to put it...These images are beautiful if you understand slapstick as an art form.

06/11/2003 04:39:39 PM · #4

I have wonky teeth and I'm way too fat - I don't give a flying toss - there will likely be a unconscious effect where the really attractive people get very slightly higher votes but I truly hope this will be marginal.

And if someone doesn't like the way I look - do I give a f***?

:o)

Nope!

jerrft

Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3

06/11/2003 04:44:32 PM · #5

Originally posted by Kavey:

You can parlay that kind of ugliness into a pretty decent shot. Suggested topics: homeless person, person from West Virginia, Jerry Springer guest ... the list goes on.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

06/11/2003 04:49:25 PM · #6

i like taking self portraits.

that said, i dont think there's any real compelling photographic reason to do them for a challenge, just because a lot of people have no desire to show themselves. it just forces people who have no interest in modeling to model. why bother? there are plenty of people out there who DO want to be subjects for photos. We can learn more from a portrait challenge about the photography of the human form.

dsidwell

Canon EOS-5D

06/11/2003 04:50:09 PM · #7

Take a look at Jean-Jacque. He's not a bad looking guy, but I wouldn't call him a supermodel. And his shot did very well:

//www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=11889

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/11/2003 04:51:24 PM · #8

Originally posted by jerrft:

Originally posted by Kavey:
I have wonky teeth and I'm way too fat - I don't give a flying toss - there will likely be a unconscious effect where the really attractive people get very slightly higher votes but I truly hope this will be marginal.

And if someone doesn't like the way I look - do I give a f***?

:o)

Nope!

You can parlay that kind of ugliness into a pretty decent shot. Suggested topics: homeless person, person from West Virginia, Jerry Springer guest ... the list goes on.

I said wonky teeth and fat not unkempt or ignorant!!! ROFL

I won't add a comment for the "West Virginia" element of your post as I don't know what that means.

jerrft

Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3

06/11/2003 04:59:04 PM · #9

Originally posted by Kavey:

I won't add a comment for the "West Virginia" element of your post as I don't know what that means.

Forgive me - I guess you can say that folks from West Virginia aren't known for being too picky about grooming and intra-family relations (if you know what I mean). Kinda like the French.

Jerry

mariomel

Canon EOS-5D

06/11/2003 05:00:38 PM · #10

Originally posted by dsidwell:

Take a look at Jean-Jacque. He's not a bad looking guy, but I wouldn't call him a supermodel. And his shot did very well:

//www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=11889

As you said, he's certainly no supermodel, but his face has lots of character. It tells a story.

Mine just tells the story of Ernest Borgnine on a Bad Hair Day. I'll have to work on this one. As my wife mentioned recently, there are not very many pictures of me, as I'm always the one holding the camera. I like the challenge of getting a picture of me. We'll see what I can pull off. LOL!

dsidwell

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

06/11/2003 05:05:03 PM · #11

Ask your wife or husband or significant other what they find attractive in you; then try to capture that (or ask yourself). If he/she says, "I like your dimples," then make sure your dimples are loud and clear!

06/11/2003 05:13:21 PM · #12

Originally posted by dsidwell:

ROFL I guess I'm in trouble...We had a conversation about what attracted us to each other in the first place and we couldn't answer it very well...

Ok I am going to just go all out take the risk and if someone uses the word fetish I'm not going to cringe...

06/11/2003 05:13:56 PM · #13

forgot to add...

I'm just going to think they don't know the difference

06/11/2003 05:21:14 PM · #14

Originally posted by dsidwell:

But I've just spent some time lamenting the fact that my first attempts do show my dimples... aaah!

And does this mean that my Pete (ganders) has to photograph his DAMN FINE arse?

Message edited by author 2003-06-11 17:21:57.

06/11/2003 05:21:33 PM · #15

indulge my desire to play devil's advocate:

isn't forcing people who don't want to show themselves defeating the whole purpose of the Internet ;) ?

06/11/2003 05:22:57 PM · #16

Originally posted by magnetic9999:

indulge my desire to play devil's advocate:

isn't forcing people who don't want to show themselves defeating the whole purpose of the Internet ;) ?

No one is forced to enter - there are no prizes for most challenges entered and no punishment for skipping some.

pinback

Canon EOS-10D

06/11/2003 05:24:22 PM · #17

Originally posted by dsidwell:

What a great suggestion - I'll try that. Thanks. Don't be disappointed if my entry is a blank square, though :-)

06/11/2003 05:25:45 PM · #18

of course no one is 'forced', but there sure is alot of cajoling going on ;)

Originally posted by Kavey:

Originally posted by magnetic9999:
indulge my desire to play devil's advocate:

isn't forcing people who don't want to show themselves defeating the whole purpose of the Internet ;) ?

No one is forced to enter - there are no prizes for most challenges entered and no punishment for skipping some.

06/11/2003 05:29:53 PM · #19

Yep - I've been petitioning someone to enter a nekkid portrait and am hoping the idea has taken root.

(No, not my husband).

06/11/2003 05:32:11 PM · #20

just give us a hint - male or female? :)

06/11/2003 05:33:05 PM · #21

Originally posted by Kavey:

Yep - I've been petitioning someone to enter a nekkid portrait and am hoping the idea has taken root.

(No, not my husband).

LOL please please tell me at least its male...not that I mind seeing tastefully done nude women but just once a nude man would be appreciated.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/11/2003 05:33:30 PM · #22

Male.

:D

justine

Canon EOS-50D

06/11/2003 05:46:06 PM · #23

Voting.....
Please male body!!
Love us females but a male nude would be a welcome site to see.
@^@

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

06/11/2003 05:49:03 PM · #24

Man the women here are some hard up. lol

;)

M