Yesterday marked the first day of an online class I am taking called "You Are Your Own Muse" (Love the title). It is an online photography class taught by the talented Vivienne McMaster that explores self-portraits. In the past, I have been loathe to turn the camera on myself. I almost always hate the way I look in photos: my lazy eye is obvious, my skin is ultra-shiny, my wrinkles are showing. Self-criticism stops me cold from getting in front of the camera.
Recently though, I realized that my children will look back on photos from their youth and see lots of them with each other, them alone, or them with their dad, but none with me. It takes me out of the family equation. And I am very much here. And there needs to be a record of my presence.
So, the class. It would be a bit of an understatement to say that I am nervous to take this journey. But I have decided to dig deep, throw my expectations out the window and just enjoy the process. I even took a few pictures yesterday to get the juices flowing. Below are two of my favorites from the set. Although they are not traditional self-portraits, they are representations of me, of myself. And that dear friends, is all they need to be.
Me and the boys.
My kicks.
