Did you ever wonder if the person in the puddle is real, and you’re just a reflection of him?
~ Bill Watterson
We are having the most amazing day today. It is unbelievably sunny, clear, and warm. I’m pretty sure the high today got close to 80 degrees. I swear I thought flowers would start popping up out of the ground and leaves would unfurl on the trees. That’s how warm it felt.
It was the kind of day in which you throw open the windows, hang laundry out to dry, and find all sorts of things to do outdoors because it’s too nice to stay inside.
We had rain and wind overnight. I know this because I couldn’t sleep. I rather enjoyed sitting in the dark, listening to the rain and wind. It’s soothing, and eventually things calmed down enough to put me to sleep.
Do you know Otto over at In Flow? If you’re interested in photography, you should. I’ve learned a lot by reading Otto’s blog, especially about the artistic aspects of photography rather than just the craft.
Otto recently wrote a post titled Look at Yourself about taking self-portraits. As many of you know, I don’t like being in front of the camera, but I’ve taken the occasional self-portrait either as a photo challenge or because I realized my grandchildren and great-grandchildren might want to know what I look like. I often feel as though my photography is, in a way, a self-portrait, but that lets me off the hook too neatly. That is why I decided to take up the challenge/project that Otto presented for himself: to take a self-portrait once a week over the next year, with the thought in mind that some weeks might not work out, but in the end I should have about 30-35 self-portraits.
I started last week and ended up with this:
I know. It’s a weird picture, right? The processing made me more wrinkled than I am, but I sort of like it anyhow. It’s me at the computer. I was sorting through old photos, deleting some of the old to make room for the new, when I stopped and took a couple of shots. I figure if I’m going to do this, I’m not going to set up the tripod, do my hair and make-up (I don’t think I own any make-up, now that I think about it), put on my nicest outfit, and pose. I’m going to try to capture me as, well, me. Doing me things.
I don’t know how many self-portraits I’ll post. Part of me feels it’s a little narcissistic. I suppose I’ll work through that, one way or the other, as time goes on.
I guess that’s more than enough from me on this beautiful day. Thank you for visiting. I hope this Monday has treated you to beautiful weather or beautiful something. I’m going back outside for a while. Let’s meet at the Point for sunset. It’s shorts and t-shirt weather, but you might want to bring a jacket. I’m not sure how fast the temperature will drop with the sun. Sunset is at 4:45 PM. Come early so we can chat a bit before the show begins.
Be good, be kind, be loving. Just Be. 🙂
Today’s joys: The day! the warm and beautiful day!; getting blown around by the blustery wind; capturing the Kingfisher; sitting on the dock enjoying the sunshine and watching the tide come in; hot & sour mushroom soup; the Eastern Bluebirds flitting around.
Wonderful portraits, Robin. Your approach produces a portrait- not a contrived mask of how you want to present yourself to others. A gorgeous day today here, too after a very noisy night. We had a tree split and found half of it lying in the back garden today. Wonder whether either of us will see snow this week? Our forsythia are covered in buds, and will probably bloom should we have another day like today. Hope you and M make it to the dock tonight for the sunset. Hugs, WG
LikeLike
Thank you, WG. I’m so sorry about the split tree. 😦 The wind really was whipping. I noticed a lot of downed branches in the woods, but the trees all seem to have held their own. I was wondering about snow, too. Right now, it doesn’t look likely, but the forecasters have been wrong before.
LikeLike
What creative playful images…beautiful
LikeLike
Thank you, Seonaid. 🙂
LikeLike
Nice. All of it.
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Mike. 🙂
LikeLike
I like your creative self-portraits and the challenge set by Otto. I just joined his blog so maybe I can learn something too! Thanks for the link. Nice to have a rare warm day in late November; it’s truly an unexpected gift, isn’t it?
LikeLike
It was a wonderful gift, Cathy. Thank you. 🙂 I hope you enjoy Otto’s blog as much as I do.
LikeLike
Thanks, I hope so too, Robin. 🙂
LikeLike
Alright … you had fun with the treatment on the pics of you. 😉 … Nonetheless, the second and third pics are my favs … simply awesome!!!!
LikeLike
Thank you, Frank. 🙂
LikeLike
The person in the puddle… it’s me! Love the deck/bench shot on the water; it seems transitional.
LikeLike
🙂 Thank you, Eric.
LikeLike
I’ll have to go visit Otto’s blog. I had not thought of playing with filters on selfies – good idea. My t-shirts and shorts are put away for winter, so maybe I’ll wait till it cools before I join you tonight, if that’s okay.
LikeLike
It’s cooling off quickly now, Carol, so summer clothing won’t be needed now. 🙂
LikeLike
Regarding Bill Watterson’s quote…no I never thought that. But now I will and it will likely freak me out. 🙂
LikeLike
LOL, CM! I can see how it might be a little freaky to think about. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am so happy for you that you live in such a beautiful place, and had such a beautiful day! And I like seeing pictures of you — I don’t think it’s narcissistic : )
LikeLike
Thank you so much, BATR. 🙂
LikeLike
Hey Robin, this is an Interesting collection of shots—you offer a wonderful variety. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Marcy. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The thanks go to you for sharing. 🙂
LikeLike
I think if you do make the photos regularly and can bear to, it would be great to post them – over a period of time we would ‘see’ more and more of you being you. Narcissism is done the other way I think – all done up and taking the Barbie Doll shot. I am not good around cameras – either in front or behind really. My family assures me I have a special Downs Syndrome face that I trot out for photos 🙂 so I understand your reluctance……….
LikeLike
My camera face is, I’m told, a grumpy face, Pauline. lol! At least if I take the photos myself, I don’t have to worry about someone else catching me with my grumpy face on. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a wonderful gift…a visit from summer! I love the tree photo that is just above the first self portrait and I don’t think the second self portrait is strange at all. I really like that one! I hope you do post some of those in the coming year. I’d like to see them…and your creativity!
LikeLike
Thank you, Corina. 🙂 Perhaps as I get more comfortable with the idea of a weekly self-portrait, I’ll be more comfortable posting them.
LikeLike
Could I add to your list of Today’s Joys? ~~ Robin sharing photos of herself! In all the years I have known you, I have rarely seen a photo of you, and it really is a joy to see the lovely lady behind the camera and the words. Please do continue the challenge to take one self portrait of yourself each week ~ your great-grandchildren will thank you for it, and so will I, if you share some more. 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you so much, Joanne. 🙂 I’ll work on it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How wonderful to have a visitor from summer! Glad you are posting photos of you! Love it! I rarely remember taking photos of myself 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Amy. 🙂
LikeLike
love your reflections – esp. the laundry!
LikeLike
I will have to go find Otto’s blog! I love the laundry shot. And of course the ones of you.
LikeLike
PS: This is the second shot of a kingfisher I’ve seen today. And I haven’t seen any in years…so that feels odd.
LikeLike