Seeing: Self-portrait
Our stories inscribe their own heiroglyphics, like shorthand symbols, on our faces.Vertical lines between the eyebrows. Horizontal ones on the forehead. Bundles of thin parallel lines at the outer corners of the eyes - crow's feet.
A curving vertical furrow on each side of the nose and mouth.
A true record.
....
This visual self-revelation really doesn't come naturally, but I'm encouraged by the creativity of Natalie (of course), Brenda, MB, Jean, Dave, and Felicity, who are all participating in the self portrait marathon, and also by Tamar and Leslee who aren’t taking part officially but have each put up photographs of themselves.
And a mention too for LJ, who has been posting inspiring self-portraits on her blog for a while now – well before the marathon began.
posted by Mary at 7:25 am
9 Comments:
I love this photo!! Seen by you, as well as seeing you.
What I am finding, though, staring at my own face so much, is that I start to see beyond the lines and (in my case!) jowls, to see how fluid my face is, how unlike, really, any of the static views I stare at in the mirror or in a photo. I think we take this for granted with the people close to us, but often don't realise that looking at ourselves, caught in a moment, is not the way we most often look at others, over minutes, hours, lifetimes...
I see a small fine bone structure, which is beautiful, and deep wells of eyes that are kind, compassionate, enquiring, intelligent, soft, gentle, and reveal that you are sensitive, have been hurt along the way, but live with such beauty nothing can really touch your radiance. Whatever furrows you're seeing are barely visible - but I see my own in my photos too! We're all just catching up on ourselves, it seems.
Thank you for posting this mini view; cropped as it is it still reveals you as a beautiful woman.
Mary, this is a great image. Am so impressed by you and all the bloggers who are doing this! Don't think I can though.
So beautiful. Luminous.
thank you so much for sharing "YOU" with us! it is just delightful to see you.
i have those vertical lines between the eyebrows! i call mine "my frown wrinkles." it is an expression of doubt, agitation, disdain that makes these appear so vividly on my face! perhaps i should reassess spending energy in that frame of mind if it is going to make me look older! ;)
They say the eyes are the windows into the soul, but looking at this I think they're also the windows out from the soul into the other. Intense. And difficult to do for a self-portrait, I think, unless you're thinking of someone as you peer into the camera?
Yes, the furrows and lines. Sigh. I see them more and more in my mirror. Trying to appreciate them but longing for botox!
Keep going.
These are terrific, M.
And Frida Kahlo made a career of self-portraits...I never, ever tire of seeing her work, her face.
Something about self-portraits speaks the way poems do. Sometimes an expression, the way the light hits, reveals something inner that we didn't see before.
And it's fascinating.
Thanks everyone!!!
Goodness, these are beautiful eyes!
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