When I started getting into photography during school/university I realised what a struggle it could be to get models who are available when you need them let alone who could produce the shot you want. For me this wasn't because they were bad models, but because I wasn't very skilled at directing. The shortcut I've taken through this hurdle is to use myself as a model. I'm available 24/7 and am totally willing to embarrass myself trying to get the perfect shot being alone in the room with a camera. So much of my work is self portrait based lately, and in a world of smartphones and 'selfie' front-facing camera's I actually feel content to display them as art, not as 'selfies'. I don't focus on making myself look good or even on the fact that it's me. I've learnt to love photos of myself in a completely different way to how a lot of people view photo's of themselves today. I feel a real difference between these photo's and the ones I do intend to be focused on me, I am able to judge the image as a whole and what it represents, rather than the person and my specific personal features. I'd love to see more people feel they too are a work of art and treat images of themselves with an open mind. |