More Perfect As Is

I've gotten a lot of interest in my Perfect As Is series. Today, I had two photographers come to get their picture taken. It surprised me that photographer's would be interested in modeling for this series. I'm honored. First, I'm honored they think it's art. Second, I'm honored they think I'm good enough to represent them as they are. I hope I did them justice.

Perfect As Is

I am going to start taking a different kind of portrait. One that's more natural. This is me with the tiniest amount of makeup thrown on. All my wrinkles and spots are there, every single one. And when you look at this portrait large, I swear you can see small families living in my pores.

But it's me. It's what I look like almost every day. I have some crazy furrowed brow, my lips are downturned making me look pissed off all the time, my eyebrows go every which way, and I have speckled eyes that stare intently trying to figure it all out.

I spend so much time editing out the "flaws" of everybody when I take portraits that I make them unreal. It's the fairy tale version of people. And right now, I'm tired of the fairy tale. I want to see the reality. I want the reality to be good enough - better than good enough, perfect as is.

New Ring Flash

I broke down and bought a ring flash. I'm not sure what possessed me to do it, but I did.

I had fun playing around with it. It's a bit heavy. I complain about a heavy lens, imagine adding a whole light to the weight of your camera! I'll probably overuse it for a while. It is fun.

My self portrait was taken with extension tubes and a ring flash. All my new toys.

The portrait of Jen is a more typical ring flash portrait. I overexposed a bit, but I like that look better than the correctly exposed shots. I like to blow out skin. Maybe because it's easier than processing out all the flaws! I don't really know, I just seem to like that look.