Typhoon days tend to be an excuse to tap into my creative outlets. They’re one of the few days that occur throughout the year when I don’t feel obligated to be somewhere doing something. Yesterday I decided to get a jump-start on a project I’ve had in mind for awhile. I’ve been meaning to do a study in self-portraits. This is the first of the series.
I wasn’t really sure how to go about doing this. I tried not to look at other examples of self-portraits because I wanted this one to be completely my own. I want it to reflect who I am behind closed doors. It’s very very different from most of the photos of me you’ll see floating around on the Internet. Those photos are great, but they also reflect how I want you to see me. This one is a bit grittier.
I’ve chosen to focus on my eyes, because in many ways, I feel as though my eyes have just started seeing things for the first time since I moved to Asia. Eyes are also a symbol for spiritual sight and inner vision; these are two qualities I’ve learned to embrace and cherish.
“The common eye sees only the outside of things, and judges by that, but the ‘all seeing eye’ pierces through, and reads the heart and the soul, finding there capacities which the outside didn’t indicate or promise, and which the other kind couldn’t detect.” – Mark Twain
I’ve always strived to keep my eyes open and to accept, understand and believe in what I’m seeing. Too often, we go through life with eyes closed. This self-portrait is saying, “I see you. I see me. I see everything.”
This is me. No fuss. No muss. No makeup. Just me.
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Lovely Carrie, I look forward to seeing more of this series. I think I’ll be spending most of the day cleaning and taking pictures of toys.
Nice. You look Mona Lisa-esque. I can’t wait to see more.
Thanks Todd. Typhoon days are great for tapping into creative outlets. I really should catch up with you on your toy collection. I’m an avid collector myself. I just picked up a limited edition of Medicom’s Beatles Be@rbrick Collection. Sweet!
Aww Steve. That’s nice to say. I’ll have to work on my secret smile a bit more though…
oooh. green green bruce banner green. simply lovely.
i find concentrating on the pupils somehow starts numerous stories all at once that plays in a blinding blur. and when it ends, you realize you dont know what they were or remember any part of them.
(i.e nice one!)
ps . hello carrie
Lovely pictures! Spontaneity becomes you!
I’m glad someone gets creative on typhoon days. I don’t. I spend typhoon days playing computer games – it’s the only time I ever play games.
Hi Carrie, I agree with Stevo. At first glance, you look like the Mona Lisa. Love the green eyes, very expressive.
I like how you have cropped the photo Carrie. It is an unusual and original way to express yourself. Like the others here I am looking forward to seeing more from this series.
This actually reminds me of the one dollar bill and george washington’s stare…..not that you look like him. just the facial expression in the eyes.
nice eyes btw.
I love your eyes. I believe the same, thats the eyes are windows to the soul. My self portraits are often cheesy, funny.
AT!
Wow. I haven’t heard from you in ages. I stopped by your site a few weeks ago. You’re still kicking out AMAZING photography.
Thanks everyone.
http://thelemonspank.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/dang/
Thanks Carrie. Yup, things have been so busy lately. But finally I have been able to add a new entry to my site.
Wow … so lovely !!
I wish I had eyes as big as yours.
You look beautiful. Gritty and grainy. The accompanying font is perfect.
Mirror of your soul. The globetrotter’s eyes which have seen a lot. It’s beautiful. I love it.
Thank you, everyone! Your comments are all really nice and extremely encouraging. I’ve wasted far too much time on photography this week, but wow, it was fun!
Lovely portrait Carrie. Very beautiful and very unique. You do seem to make most of the typhoon days. There is always something to learn from you whenever I’m here.
Thanks Ashish. I’m glad to see you back in my RSS reader. I was starting to get worried you had given up on us. Your thoughts are reciprocated. That’s the beauty of blogging I guess. We all share and learn from each other.
Hi Carrie..
Wow.. long time I’ve been wanting to read your new posts but the internet in Indonesia didn’t want to help me!
Such a great photo.
And so nice to see you posting it, confident about it like this. I just love it.
Our wedding planning is in my magic mom’s hands now. I know I have lots to do, but I just feel like everything is going to be fine and simple and beautiful. During the trip I just have to find a dress somewhere.. and finish writing the ceremony (where did I get this idea of writing it myself??)
And we are buying the invites as well… post cards. =)
Hope your planning is going ok.. keep us informed!
Hi Cris,
You’re so sweet to write me back while you’re on the road. I know how frustrating Internet service can be…especially in Indonesia!
I’m sure you get your resourcefulness from your mother, which makes her the perfect choice to help you with your wedding planning. It will be beautiful, I just know it! I can’t wait to see photos. I’m sure you will find the PERFECT dress somewhere, sometime when you least expect it! Good luck!
the travel of to taiwan ,some things push you behind ? that`s my mind inside like you ,i like to travel but the point it ?
Hi An,
Thanks for stopping by! I dropped by your site earlier. You’ve got some fantastic photography on it. Did you take all the photos yourself? If you’re asking why I decided to move to Taiwan, it’s because I wanted to learn about Taiwanese culture. I also like the idea of being able to travel freely. This is something that is for folks from North America to do because it’s too expensive and we can’t get the time off.
Thats SOME photo. I do back stevo. The first impression was..wait a minute..i’ve seen this somewhere else!
This is beautiful, maybe because its simply you.
Nivin,
Ha! It’s funny that you say that. One of my friends on Facebook told me that they also felt like they had seen it somewhere before. Thanks very much for your compliments. I always struggle with self-portraits. Maybe it’s because I’m always a little scared of showing a different side of myself.
I know this is old but I have been spending some time exploring your site a bit more in depth. Typhoon Days – sounds exotic in a strange way.
I do like the image here, you devoid of “the other”.
Thanks Michael. Don’t you get a typhoon or two? Stevo was telling me that Shenzhen received the tale end of a few whoppers last year.