Shutter Sisters

Hello You!

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Anyone who has been through a difficult time can appreciate how healing (and thought-provoking) taking self-portraits can be.  Sometimes you just need to face yourself in the mirror.  Sometimes you need to be willing to see exactly what you look like in order to silence the constant critic who can’t stop exaggerating your worst faults. 

The truth is, we are all more tender, more fragile, more strong and more beautiful than we can bear to imagine–but it gets one step easier if we’re willing to pick up the camera (or the iPhone) and take in all of who we are, through a more forgiving lens.

I’ve been doing this everyday for the last few weeks.  I think it’s helping me get grounded and remember who I am, after all I’ve seen and been through over the last year.

Do you need a nudge to turn that camera back around on your beautiful self?

Hello Contest!

It’s time for a June Mini Photo Contest. That means it’s time to share your best image that fits our theme this week. Today, it’s Hello You! So show us YOU in all your self-portrait glory between now and Sunday night at midnight PST over in our OWP Flickr pool and leave a comment here with a link to your shot. Only one image per person please and only those images shared through links in the comments here will be considered. There will be one “Grand Hello” winner that will receive a 36X24 canvas (Hello!) and 2 runners up will win a 20X24 canvas compliments of Hello Canvas, of course!

๏ปฟSo hurry, hurry–don’t be shy.  We’re eager to see your sweet face–exactly as you are right now.

Comments

  12. I never thought of self-portraits being therapeutic. That’s a really interesting idea – I’m going to try it this weekend.

    Cheers,
    Anne

  13. I have just completed a self portrait series in my photography class and it wasn’t until the last week (of a 9 week course) that I was brave enough to express my true feelings of where I am in my life right now.

    I picked the one photo that speaks to me the most, the frustration and the lost feeling that I am fighting and which is keeping me awake at night.

    The quote is Mary Oliver. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14261878@N08/4662249016/

  16. jen, this is exactly why it became so important to turn that camera around on myself. like i knew i existed after coming through something awful, i knew i existed because i had an image of myself. i might not have recognized myself but i knew i wasn’t disappearing.

    thank you for this.

    "Anyone who has been through a difficult time can appreciate how healing (and thought-provoking) taking self-portraits can be. Sometimes you just need to face yourself in the mirror. Sometimes you need to be willing to see exactly what you look like in order to silence the constant critic who can’t stop exaggerating your worst faults. "

  27. It’s nice reading that so many are willing to do a selfie. I really dislike most of them so I’m not inclined to do one, I’m so sorry to say. I do love the notion that it can be rewarding and helpful and I’m so pleased for every one who finds it healing. I really admire that, a lot.

    Besides doing one using a mirror I haven’t a clue how on earth to get the image to focus. I’ll happily go visit some of these brave women to see what remarkable work they’re doing with their own self portraits.

  40. Just last week I asked my husband to take a picture of me (with me getting everything set up for him, of course). It took us a couple of tries to get one that I was okay with.

    http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4713387060_fdb89b1ce3_m.jpg

    I never used to mind pictures of myself but now I hate them. Every time I see a photograph of myself all I can see is how much weight I’ve put on and how my face has aged since I had kids.. I wish I could feel as comfortable in front of the camera as I do behind it. And I wish I had better appreciated those days when I didn’t hate every single picture of me. I’m trying to see myself in a more positive light…but it’s hard.

  51. Self portraits are not my favorite thing to do. I rarely even attempt them, because all I see when I take them is everything that is wrong with me. They are a shure fire way to cut myself down.

    A few weeks ago, after a new haircut, I was filled with self confidence. I positioned myself in front of the mirror, and grabbed my BlackBerry. Oddly, I was VERY pleased with the result. The picture clearly conveys my happiness and confidence. It doesn’t look fake or forced. I actually look happy and relaxed (I was also on vaction, so that may have helped).

    In fact, I look the way I want to look through other people’s eyes.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristakruger/4716048218/