Self-portrait with Florist’s window, 2013
Advertisements
54 Comments
Leave a Reply
Top Posts & Pages
Self-portrait with Florist’s window, 2013
Forgive me, Richard, but I think it’s stretching it a bit, to call this a self portrait…
In terms of likeness, I agree with you, but it kind of puts across the way I feel when I’m taking shots, so I consider it a self-portrait in that sense. Thanks very much for your honesty, Shimon – am I talking rubbish do you think?
No… everyone chooses how to express himself, especially in an artistic vein. In my old fashioned way, I felt that I wasn’t getting a really good picture of who you are in this picture. And so for me, it wasn’t really a portrait.But had you called it, “sneaking into the chaos”, I probably would have enjoyed it thoroughly. You see, I see the title as part of the work itself. And I appreciate that you are willing to listen to the unabashed personal viewpoint of someone who follows your work, even if, at times, I’m not complimentary.
I’m really pleased that you are, at times, not complimentary and really value your comments – I think part of the function of any cultural work is to open up debate and get people talking to each other. It’s very important to me what you think and your point about this post is a good one; I can completely see why you don’t consider it a portrait. Perhaps there is not enough there to carry the title – I’ll have to think about this. 🙂
I really like this shot, the composition and colours. I find it interesting that you chose to call this a self-portrait, since the portrait of the street comes out a lot stronger than your own reflection. Anyhow, that might be a way to look at yourself through what we see and experience on a daily basis. Nice piece of food for the brains 🙂
Thanks very much, Anette. 🙂 Yes, I quite like not being too visible in this, which is quite appropriate for me. And I like losing myself in the moment when I’m taking shots.
Beautiful shot, Richard. I like the many layers in it; the dual self-portrait, plus the car behind! There’s a lot of reflection (physical and introspective) to it! 😀
Thanks very much, Richard! 🙂 Yes, why take one self-portrait when you can take two 🙂
Ps. I’m REALLY struggling with this collab 😦
Haha… Awww… Well, erm, who set it? 😉
beautiful! lots to discover in this photo
Thanks so much, Inge!
Sweet reflections. Split personalities? The Ying and Yang of self? Great stuff.
Thanks very much, Terry. 🙂
Looks like the type of self portrait I would take, haha, I love it. There are so many layers and so many things to try and work out in it.
Yes, once I found a window that could do two reflections at once I couldn’t leave it alone 🙂 Thanks very much, Leanne.
Interesting self portrait. It’s random and yet orderly. Think my fav element is the little hint of reflected leaves! They somehow belong and don’t belong but still belong perfectly. 🙂
Thanks very much, Jennifer. Ha, yes – think I know what you mean 🙂 Funnily enough, the leaves were what made me choose this shot over several others that were pretty similar – they remind me of a bookplate or something – some kind of framing device.
Smart capture Richard. Twin reflection is neat, makes it interesting.
Yes, there’s only one thing I like more than a reflection and that’s two reflections. Thanks very much, Arjun.
Nice! One of my favorites of yours, Richard. A self portrait is simply how the artist sees him or her self. Once an artist labels a piece of work ‘self portrait’, the fact that it is just that becomes indisputable.
Thanks very much, Alex! I’m really glad you like it. And that you see it that way – it definitely describes the way I feel sometimes when I’m out shooting.
Very nice, you picked a good spot, i like the way the reflection is doubled, the “ghost” effect is stronger.
Thanks very much, Guillame. I’m a big fan of reflections – they spark off a lot of supplementary meanings in a picture – I like it that they do a lot of heavy lifting at no extra cost 🙂
Quite fitting-you going after the shot! Terrific.
🙂 Thanks very much, Elena!
It’s a great image, and a wonderful concept. You have communicated a sort of self-effacing presence, at the same time you have captured your concentrated absorption in the moment. Very cool.
Thanks so much, Melanie! I think the key for me is the absorption – in that moment I’m right there and not there.
“I find pieces of myself everywhere, and I cut myself handling them.”
Jeanette Winterson – Lighthousekeeping
This is fascinating, I like that you called it a self portrait – to me it says that you ‘bloom’ when you take photographs, like a welling-up inside.
Ah, I love Jeanette Winterson’s work.
That’s a wonderful comment – thanks very much, Karen! Yes, the right one’s do feel like a welling up, but usually afterwards – it’s difficult to pin down the moment – it’s like a presence and an absence at the same time – how is it for you?
Brilliant!
Thanks very much, Mary Ann!
ciao! i do see you through the ‘looking glass’…a brilliant self portrait. this shot blooms:)
thebestdressup
🙂 Thanks very much!
Bloom lovely pic 😉 I’m a big fan of your multi-dimensional, multi-faceted images, so I think it’s fitting to include yourself, after all you are inherent to the process.
🙂 Thanks very much, EllaDee! Yes, there’s no getting away from it.
I love this Richard. If you say it is a self portrait, in my view, then it is. Even if it were a picture of a soccer ball or an apple.
As you know I use myself a lot in my pictures. I got tired of trying to decide which ones I considered self portraits and which ones I considered were me as a happenstance model. So I just tag them all with ‘self’ and don’t think about it anymore! 🙂
🙂 Neat solution. I may “borrow” that. Thanks very much, Ashley. I agree with you. Artistic modes should be plastic, I think – it’s just tradition that we call certain ways of doing things by certain names. You can tell I was taught by conceptual artists, can’t you [insert embarassed emoticon]?
🙂
The reflection of Richard or his shadow – one shade of Richard – I really like it… ‘hehehe”
Thanks very much, Drake! Glad you like it! 🙂
Some might argue that every photo we take is a self-potrtrait of sorts, or the self we are searching for . . . .
Love the repeated reflections!
There’s definitely something in that. Although I’d argue that it’s by accident and the portrait you paint isn’t necessarily the one you’d otherwise present, in the same way that you can change your mind about something simply by writing about it. Like the idea of it being the self we are searching for very much – I’m definitely trying to lose myself when I’m taking street shots (perhaps in search of the other self). 🙂 Thanks very much, Patti! Very thought-provoking.
I remember Blooms! I think … 🙂 Pretty picture Richard! 🙂
Thanks so much, Gigi! 🙂
Not what I was expecting (when I read the title) but I like the chaotic feel to this. Self-reflection through reflections!
Ha, yes, or self-annihilation. Glad you like it.
It’s an interesting point that this reflects the way you feel. I can relate to the feeling of disembodiment. Being the creator behind the image/drawing removes you from the context. “Self annihilation” or displacement of self is quite addictive. Whilst you are creating something beautiful for your other photographs, you are removing yourself from the viewer’s eye, but cannot usually see your physical self in your work. This is my favourite photo so far, as it means so much, especially as an artist who is used to self annihilation also.
Yes, ha, it’s totally addictive to me – I wonder whether it drives me. That’s such a great comment – thanks so much, Cheryl! I knew it would be the case for you too – there’s no way you can write/ draw the way you do without that feeling.
I think it’s intrinsic and essential. It just happens, and I can see it does with you also, it’s much more than escapism.
Love the layers of stories weaved within this photograph. Its always a delight to see the world through your eyes.
That’s so nice to hear – thanks very much! I’m really glad you like my stuff. I love yours.
It’s such a brilliant piece of art. Self-portraits…. that’s you split into two.
The gods were being playful that day and threw this window into your path…. and you matched their game…. and then some!
Thanks so much, MJ! That’s really nice to read – you’ve made my weekend!
The colours in this shot are beautiful! Layers, reflections and colours… love.
Olga