I don’t do a lot of self-portraits; it’s not something I’ve been comfortable with. I always knew I wouldn’t end up on the cover of GQ, and as I hit middle age, gravity and my appetite have taken their toll. Nevertheless, having followed a couple of photographers and their approach to self-portraits (especially the amazing, intense work of April Lea), I’ve been so impressed with the open and honest nature of their work that I feel compelled to revisit self-portraiture. It will be a difficult, self-confrontational process to force myself over to the other side of the lens, and deal with the insecurities, and the echos of schoolyard taunts of decades past.
It starts now.
My Third Eye 
interesting on so many levels – good for you for pushing into uncomfortable areas.
This picture fascinates me – first of all, I have no beginning of understanding as to how you’ve processed this – but I think It’s mostly captivating as even though it’s clearly a picture of you, if someone didn’t know what you looked like, this still wouldn’t entirely clue them in. Very interesting when attached to the post’s text…
by the way, your efforts here have made me pull out my camera after a few months away…thanks!
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Glad to hear the camera is out again! If we are ever in the same city at the same time we should do a photo-walk.
For this image I used my iPhone and a combination of two apps: Monophix 3 and Pic Grunger to get the aged/distressed photo look. Of course, my self-critical side would say I’m hiding behind the effects and trying to obscure myself and I guess there is some truth to that …
Thanks as always for your comment Bob!
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Really a brilliant way to start of on this portrait project! The effects work well, but the angle makes the picture. Well done, sensei!
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Thanks Dude! I’m not sure I’d call myself a sensei, though. (I know what that means, and thanks for the compliment!!)
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John, I would never have recognized it was you in the image if you hadn’t mentioned it. The image expresses a rough burly rancher-type person to me. I have never seen a bird’s-eye view of your head, but ah, the nose. There’s the sign. A nice surprise.
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Yup, the nose 😦 At some point I’ll have to take a shot directly of it, when I can afford a 14mm rectilinear wide-angle lens 🙂
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