One Self Portrait
Playing with mirrors, always has been a way to explore our self-identity. With or without a camera to capture the moment, that is still a form of diagnose. Our reflection. Besides the idea of expressing our self-identity through a photograph of one’s reflection in the mirror, there is also this intrigue notion of isolate spaces. Must of our Self Portraits happens in a bathroom or a private space, like our rooms. So, there is this idea of a space of solitude as a need to explore one’s self.
One of the photographers that played with this concept was Vivian Maier.
“In their rigor, dark wit, and visual intensity, Maier’s self-portraits are the most intriguing part of her work.” – Terry Castle
In Maier’s there is the motif of a mirror. Not only that, but the capturing of the self, leaves us wondering even more. A sense of loneliness, invisibility. Being there without being truly present. A mere display of a reflection. That doesn’t seem to reveal. A sense of staying impenetrable.
Self Portrait
To discover this self-identity, playing with mirrors and reflections was the starting point. With this approach, you can manipulate what you want to be portrayed. Showing different angles and diverse parts of the countenance. Seeing more than just one viewpoint, through two mirrors, we have this echo effect. Something else is revealed, when is repeated with a new perspective by using a smaller mirror to show a different side of what we already seen in the big mirror.
Like in some of Vivian Maier self-portraits, the camera is present. That gives the audience this understatement, that you as a photographer wanted to register yourself in the first place, and as a photographer to do that so, you need to take your own picture. The camera is there because is what displays this concept of portraying the self.
Development of the project:
(I tried to experiment with the different angles as much as possible. I felt that I needed to reveal my face in its entirety, so that is why I was not completely happy with these).
(Original version next to the edited one).
The Familiar
The idea of photographing someone that is completely comfortable with the photographer gives a change to explore different ways of creating portraits. In this attempt of capturing someone that we truly know, a certain energy is felt and makes the shooting a very relaxing experience. The feel of authenticity and truth is present. The complicity between subject and photographer is close-fitting. It works within portraiture. You are allowed to infiltrate someone’s soul. To represent this idea of closeness and relaxation, the concept of doing a portrait in the water emerged.
Two different photographs from different artists inspired this notion of tranquillity by being in the water.
Robert Mapplethorpe – Javier (1985)
Sally Mann – At Warm Springs (1991)
Portrait of Family Member
Photographing someone very close to you is like being in the womb. A cocoon. The water gives that feeling of being in touch with one’s sensibility and space.
Development of the project:
(The original photographs came out a bit too dark, so after picking the one that I felt that portrayed better the feeling of being at ease, I had to light it up).
The Stranger
When you need to work with the unfamiliar, it’s still important to maintain the felling of genuineness. Upon that thought it occurred that it would be good to photograph a child. It’s possible to preserve more of the comfort and the result could probably be less stiff.
While looking through Vivian Maier’s body of work we can see some amazing portraits of children, maybe being a nanny helped that task to be materialized.
Even though she is mostly recognised for her incredible street photography, she has a wide collection of portraits. We can tell that the subject was aware of being photographed, the only thing that we are not sure is if a dialogue between them was involved.
Portrait of a Stranger
When photographing a child, you feel the honesty and frankness of the subject. They will not hide and they will be true. To immerse completely into the lives of others, a child will most likely give you their permission.
Development of the project:
(I didn’t have much to choose from, but I was able to get the photograph right away when I began to interact with the subject).
(Original version next to the edited one).
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