Half way Through, nearly, well sort of…

Ok tomorrow will see me completely over the midway part of the project in terms of time, but there is still the matter of the missing pictures, namely 54, and 74.  I feel fairly sure that I did not miss them, and they are languishing somewhere on one of the various computers I use.  I like to think they have bunked off, and are having a furtive ciggie whilst sneaking a look around the edge of a long forgotten spreadsheet to look out for pesky users, i.e. me.  If I cannot track them down I will have to retake a couple more photos to fill the gaps.  So you pesky pictures, if you don’t want to be replaced then you had better show up hadn’t you.

‘What about the other missing images’ ,I optimistically hope to hear the audience cry.  Well they are not missing, but are in a state of self imposed censorship.  There is nothing illegal, or morally reprehensible about them, but they are of a nature that I would prefer them to remain private until such time that I am either rich enough not to worry about upsetting my employers, or I am just plain brave enough to cock a snoot to society and say, sometimes I look like this OK?

So here’s to another 182 days of me.  Hurrah!

This image from my 365 Self Portrait project was inspired by propaganda posters from the USSR.  I had in mind doing something akin to this with some friends, but I thought I would try it out myself first.  I really like this for a number of reasons.  Firstly,apart from re-sizing, and saving to a different format, it was all done in camera.  I really wanted to capture the blue sky and clouds, whilst keeping my face reasonable well exposed.  I had toyed with the idea of using some neutral density filters, but I wanted my face to be against the sky, so that wouldn't have really worked without some post processing work.  The technique I went with was to use the on-camera flash.I slightly raised the flash compensation hoping to win the battle with the sun.  The feel of the picture is one of a studio portrait against, or with a superimposed background with the subject, i.e. me, being almost outlined by a shadow.  Another reason I like this picture is that I'm not looking my best.  I love portraits, although not exclusively, that show something of the character of the subject, and not just a record of how well they scrub up.

I am definitely over the halfway mark numerically, although I am still missing a number 74, and still have today's contribution to create.  With 171 images still to create there is a long way to go.  Having a sometimes hectic family life, and bouts of self doubt makes it difficult to find the will to continue on occasion.  This is why there is often a glut on uploads after a period of nothing.Despite this not adhering to the accepted nature of this project I fully intend to have a complete portfolio of 365 self portraits by the time the new year has been rung in.

Reflections on the 365 project so far

When I started this 365 project I was sceptical of these merits of this type of undertaking.  Much criticised for stifling creativity, I do believe I have picked up, or perhaps strengthened some of the photography skills and knowledge I have picked up a long the way.  Although I never really planned it to be a self portrait project, it quickly took on that mantel.  I had planned recently to take a month off from my face to photograph a month of non-me people.  Somewhere in my subconscious my ego has prevented me from doing.  "No, it's mine, all MINE!" I can almost hear my Id screaming.  So the self portraits continue. 

One thing shocked me recently, and that was that I was missing two days, numbers 54 and 74 for those who might be counting.  Some entries I have made private as they are not conducive to either maintaining a dignified social standing (I fell into this dress honest constable), or might have reflected badly if my employers saw them in a public forum (you mean there's something wrong being naked in chains with an apple wedged in my mouth?), however the missing photos are genuinely missing.  I thought I'd been so careful with my numbering too.  For the record today should be day 135, so I need to do one tonight.

Another thing I have become aware of is balance.  I go though cycles of being straight, and boring only to swing to wacky, and way-out.  Sometimes I try to create a narrative, other times my image may be, just because.  It has helped to adopt sub-project, for example the popular Face down Tuesday, or my Vinyl Countdown, which spoof, or rather pays homage to albums in my record collection.

How successful I am being in creating entertaining images is difficult to judge. I post most of the pictures in Flickr, which gives me statistics on how many times my images are viewed, however there is seldom feedback from those viewers with the exception of the very occasional Fave.  Unfortunately I think to receive adulation one has to actively seek adulation, and of course have some talent to back it up.
I'm over a third of the way through, and although I do enjoy it, I will be glad when this project is finished.  I will come out of the other end with a great deal more experience with lighting, composing, retouching, etc which I will turn to good use in other areas of my photography.  In the mean time I will continue to paint my face, play with props, take my tripod with me everywhere, and generally try to have fun.

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42 of 365 Shattered

42 of 365 Shattered
Originally uploaded by Rob Johnstone

This started as a desperate experiment to keep up to date without adding too many vanilla portraits. We live on a very busy road, and from time to time a wing mirror will get clipped by speeding cars. This image was created using a damaged mirror discarded in the gutter outside our home. I clamped it, and after some experimentation using Mr. Fluffy, my faithful stuffed assistant, for focusing, I settled on this image to post. The lighting was a single source through a soft-box. The positioning was a little tricky as I didn't want the flash to spill onto the mirror.
I like the way the distortion on the backing has split my face into the wrong order.

How I see Myself

Another submission for www.photofriday.com This self portrait was from a session using the new DSLR and my cheap an nasty Interfit monobloc.