So NUGGET #2 - I HATE having my picture taken. When I look in the mirror or picture myself in my mind I somehow see myself as smaller than I really am. I call this backwards anorexia. Instead of seeing what is truly there - or like an anorexic seeing something larger than is really there - I see myself as petite and dainty and with my 18 years old wrinkle-free face!
So I go about my merry way and then - - BLAM - - I see a picture of myself and am given a big fat dose of reality. So instead of working on improving my physique (reference NUGGET #1 below), I avoid pictures. And most of the time it works...problem solved! In recent months I have made some new friends - and they LOVE to take pictures. This has put a bit of a wrinkle in my photo avoiding plans. Even if we are just doing happy hour at someone's house (names have been left out to protect the innocent!) we end up capturing the event on film. Now don't get me wrong, I love pictures! I love taking pictures, I love looking at pictures...I just hate pictures with me in them. I never really learned how to relax in photos or how to take good photos, so I tense up or make a funny face because I am so uncomfortable and self conscience and - ta da - another horrible picture of me is created - and I go drown my disdain in some Chubby Hubby Ben & Jerry's! I should have my brother and sister-in-law-to-be give me some pointers - they are crazy photogenic!
I have to be honest when I saw that the first and last day involved a self portrait I almost bailed on the project as a whole. But I committed to this and my journey to self improvement - so I tried to make the best of it. I pulled out my fancy tri-pod that hasn't seen the light of day in years and headed to the backyard while I had a few minutes between work calls and emails. I tried a number of different spots in the yard on a search to find good light and something that I could focus the camera on without me in the frame, and for a poop clear path to said location to dash down once I hit the shutter on the timer. After about 10 pics - this is the one I liked the best. By some sort of miracle I was able to get the focus almost right, the sunlight isn't in my eyes making me squint, the dark circles under my eyes aren't too out of control and I was able to crop out my giant arm in the background - success. What you can't get from the photo is how amazing the cherry blossoms on the tree smell and how Cookie the super-sized dog is trying to push me out of the frame by leaning up against my legs!
So all in all a pretty successful first day. Hopefully after 30 days we will see a bit of improvement in my photo taking skills - maybe something a bit more arty than this "senior picture" shot. Suggestions welcome!