I AM ART

HWfaber’s blog made me think about self-portraits, of the photographic variety. Up till now, I’ve called it ‘mucking about with my camera taking pictures of myself’, but thanks to him, I now realize its an art form! Yay! No more guilt!

The fact is, that if you want to try things with people pictures, one needs a willing model, and for some reason all my friends are of the sort that you have to creep up on if you want a photograph at all. You certainly can’t say: ‘Hang on there, hold it.. I want to see what happens if I take this from under your chin.’ They’ll be hiding away under the table before you or your camera can say ‘click’.

So I’ve decided to make this a ‘me messing around taking pic..’ oops, I mean ‘self-portrait art’ post.

First up is the one I’m currently using for my blogger profile – a bit harsh – I boosted the contrast to hell and back wanting something ‘moody’ and weather-beaten. Well, I must say, this one looks pretty darned dangerous. Woohoo! Mission accomplished. Don’t mess with me, especially not in a high wind.

One of my earliest attempts was this very out of focus little number. I do like being out of focus - does me the power of good, I tell you. Who’s a pretty little smudge then?

Then a year or two back, a reflection in a café window in Copenhagen. I like this one a lot. I look spooky, and you can see right through ‘me’ to the knives and forks on the window ledge and the sofa inside the café.

Then my more recent monster.. I mean.. ‘master’ pieces. I adore the one I titled ‘Kiss the Sky’. I turned it into black and white for a recent post, but its even better in colour. It was sweltering day in February and I wanted a silhouette with the occasional gleam of sweat against the fierce blue sky. Mission accomplished!

Last but not least: a smoky, hazy one taken during my recent move. I didn’t have a thing in mind, just trying some new and, strictly speaking 'wrong' camera settings, but I think the result is interesting.

I’m an ‘artist’ only in my dreams and desires (and without enough desire to actually make an effort). Photo’s are a bit of a cheat – so quick – so little effort involved, but there it is and I shall call it ‘art’ and since that is me in those pictures, I suppose I’m art too.