Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Three Unflattering Self-Portraits

I wasn't trying to take unflattering self-portraits but I have to admit I've always liked the pictures that came out of this particular evening. I was experimenting with taking photos using just the computer screen light to see how they would come out.

This evening I started experimenting with colors, exposure, contrast, etc. and the results are the pictures you see below.


I love how harsh this picture looks. I'm particularly enamored of blue around my eyes and on my hair. I look paranoid.


I love how the pictures contrast with each other, color-wise. The warmish colors really seem to suit my expression in this picture.


This is probably my favorite one. The original is even more unflattering. I love the color on my lips even though I'm wearing lip balm.

There's something oddly liberating about taking unflattering pictures of myself. Never one to shy away from the camera, I'm always ready with a smile so these pictures show a different side of me that I like very much. Besides I love portraiture and I'm always curious about where else you can go beyond the "stand there and smile" shots.

I've been slowly adding more decor to my stripped down apartment and have made good progress with rearranging my desk. I thought about finding some cheap, but interesting pictures to frame for the area above my couch then I thought I'd see if there were unusual photos I could modify and print. I'm not sure if I'll be using the above photos but I wanted to see how they'd look posted.

Oh, and below is another self-portrait from the same night in case you don't know me and think I must be an ugly troll.

4 comments:

Lolabola* said...

love these! the colours are great

Mock Turtle said...

Thanks a lot! They were a lot of fun to make.

MT

anne said...

no one could look at these pictures and think "troll" - thanks for sharing!

Mock Turtle said...

Anne - Thanks for this comment. You're sweet!

MT