As you know I’ve been a bit shy about showing my face in my self-photography. Since I’m an anonymous sex blogger and all this has been appropriate. But I’m afraid it’s also been a bit of a crutch.
Because, you see, being your own model has certain significant drawbacks. First, in addition to arranging one’s self to appear in (one hopes) appealing poses one must also fiddle and twiddle the dang cameras, tripods, lights, and background untidiness (who knew a duster and spray cleaner were essential photography aids?) Second, if one is one’s own model then one doesn’t know exactly how one will look from one’s camera’s perspective leaving one guessing about how one will ultimately turn out. (Leaving one to pretentiously refer to one’s self as “one.” To excess. I’ll stop saying it.) Third, if you, as I sometimes do, pose in a mirror with the camera next to you then you’re going to become even more self-conscious. Four, and start making faces at yourself.
Number four, above, is a bit of a problem. I’m not going to complain about the occasional (ok, more than occasional) open-mouthed, slack-jawed, seemingly-vacant expressions generated when you’re concentrating on the camera (usually trying to gauge from the camera’s timer blinks whether you’ve got time to make one more adjustment or to palm the shutter remote.) That I don’t have to like but I can live with. (It’s probably how I look when I’m having an orgasm — an expression that’s not just adorable but highly desirable on our partner’s faces but never our own — so that I can handle.
Nope. It’s when you’re trying to arrange yourself, trying to line yourself up with the reflected camera in the mirror, to turn yourself just this way or that to catch the light, to arrange yourself another way to get good posture, turn yourself yet another way so the $@#%$~%~ remote shutter release will bounce off the mirror and actually release the $%!#%!^ trigger, and in the middle of all that you catch your own eye… and make a face.
All I can say is thank goodness for Photoshop’s cropping tool. And thank goodness for the excuse of anonymous blogging!
“Towell Off 015” from my “Towel off” photoset on Flickr.
Happy HNT (or Half-nekkid Thursday!)
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Wed, 2007-08-22 20:40.
LOL, i can soooooo identify with this. and may i say when i combine the acrobatics necessary for some of the shots i have done i think we deserve kudos not only for the pics but some sort of olympic medal as well. LOVE the grin in this. it makes me giggle and think back to some really crazy shots i got unintentionally.
HHNT
[Same here, Lime. I just took a look at that puffed up chest and thought about all those "98-pound weakling" ads in the back of comic books and got overwhelmed with a case of nerd face. :-) Glad to see others are in the same boat. And happy HNT to you too, Lime. (I like how your lime dress looks like there's just one snap holding it all together.) --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Wed, 2007-08-22 20:41.
hot hot chest baby. i love taking pix of myself and i love editing so i can't quite relate but i do appreciate your sharing!
HHNT!
[Yeah, photographers have debated the darkroom vs. camera work question since almost day one... which is sort of silly since, lucky for all of us, there are no wrong answers. Happy HNT to you too, Zoely. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Wed, 2007-08-22 20:43.
Great post and an excellent pic to go along with it!!!
HHNT
[Thank you, Hella. Happy HNT to you, by the way. (Loved the clown photo as much as the next one!) --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Wed, 2007-08-22 20:44.
I have quite the collection of these shots in my unpublished pile. Happy HNT
[Yup, I've got a lot that are too hopless even for cropping. And you just wish you could put those teacher's gold star stickers over the bad spots and post 'em anyway but they never look right. :-) Thanks, Moosekahl. Very, *very* sorry about the flooding in your area and for the loss of life in your community! I'm hoping you have happier HNTs soon as can be. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Wed, 2007-08-22 21:10.
You look kinda like Smiling Bob from the Enzyte ads :) - I'd love to wrap in those killa guns tho... ;) HHNT darlin' you rock!
[Doh! It took a second but yeah, Smiling Bob it is. Thanks so much, Jeannie. And happy HNT to you too. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-08-23 15:12.
Nice towel .... :)
Happy Thursday to you, Figleaf !
[Thank you, Annie. Happy Thursday to you too. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-08-23 16:14.
so true...for some reason you remind me of the popeye cartoons!
HHNT
[Yup, that's about right. As I've said previously I'm not used to looking like that either. Hmm. Maybe all that spinach? Or bok choy, kale, collards, Swiss chard, and other greens I'm always cooking? :-) Thanks, Pi. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-08-23 16:30.
*snerk* Great post, Fig. That has got to be the CHEESIEST grin I've seen a long time. HHNT!
[You got it, DN! Pure cheesy grin -- it seemed to go perfectly with the pose. Thanks. And Happy HNT to you too. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-08-23 19:41.
ahhh..but one day you will show your face :) For now we can hope the towel won't hold up haha
[Sooner or later I'll show my face. I was thinking maybe next Thursday. Thanks, Stealth. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Fri, 2007-08-24 08:07.
Your towels pics really work for me, goofy face and all! You have to have a little fun, after all.
HHNT!
[I'm glad you're enjoying the towel photos, Bunny. And glad you appreciate the goofy expressions. Thank you. And happy HNT to you too. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Fri, 2007-08-24 20:51.
Your lively spirit is shinning through bright and clear.
Ooooo shiny sparkly.
[Aww. That's actually very sweet of you, Adela. Thank you. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-08-23 10:04.
love the grin. that is so funny.
And the chest .... mmmmmmmm
happy HNT
[Thanks, BSM. And happy HNT to you too. (I love the lighting in the top photo this week.) --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-08-23 10:41.
I hear ya, wouldn't it be nice to have a professional photographer following you around, happy HNT!
[I used to sort of wish for that, TK, but I'm so dependent on mood and inspiration they'd have to be their *all the time* and I think that would get old for all concerned. :-) Thanks. And happy HNT as well. (Love that self-cleaning pendant necklace! Cute, yes, but *yikes!*) --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-08-23 11:39.
Don't worry, it's not the face we're focusing on ;) (but if I did notice, I'd love it anyway)
[Thanks, A. I sort of figured the people who want to be looking won't be looking at the background. :-) Mild personal dysmorphia notwithstanding, I know most people look for the nice elements of a photo rather than the less fortunate ones. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Sat, 2007-08-25 03:40.
Great shots figgy; you really are a good sport.
[Thank you, Cathy. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-08-23 01:28.
That is AWESOME FIG!!!!
I love that grin... you look like you are UP to something... ;)
[Yeah, there was that little moment of absurdity and... :-) Thanks, Shibari. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-08-23 03:05.
That a very cool pic. The grin is so funny :)
HHNT
[Thanks, MGIH. Happy HNT to you too. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-08-23 12:32.
Nice teeth!!! And... can you hear me laughing?? Image now the quality of pic without a timer... That is why I know insist for Him to take the shot... I'm still cropping... ;-(
[Yeah, ya gotta get a timer and, preferably, one of those remote control thingies, SeaRabbit. Thanks. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Wed, 2007-08-22 21:12.
LMAO!
Gawd...I know exactly what you are talking about. [shaking head]
LOVE the towel shot...very hot. ;)
happyHNT!!!
[Really? The photos you post are so sharp -- good to know you're mortal after all. :-) Seriously, happy HNT to you. (I agree that's one of the coolest spots.) --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Wed, 2007-08-22 21:18.
Love the chops!
Vive La Anonymous Blogging!
HHNT!
-J
[Thanks, J, and happy HNT to you too. (By the way, Barbie never looked so elegant.) --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Wed, 2007-08-22 21:21.
I so get that! I have the same trouble just trying to take a clothed picture of myself. And when someone else tries to take my picture. Thus I avoid it whenever possible :)
But, really, that is a great cheesy grin!
[The trick is to practice, practice, practice. I think. Anyway, since I've started trying to photograph myself it's been a lot easier to let other people photograph me (and I mean me *dressed* or course.) Can't hurt much to try it. (It's not the posting part -- you don't have to do that. Instead it's the experience/practice that makes the different. Again I *think* that's it.) Thanks, J! --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Wed, 2007-08-22 21:25.
Then it doesn't help when it also looks like you've got a long earring dangling from your left ear!
[*Exactly!* Yeah, it's just a reflection in the shower glass but... see... it's hard enough just getting yourself framed squarely in the dang camera's field of view, right? And *then* you're supposed to worry about random reflections and dust bunnies! :-) (Of course I'm not sure either of us are into guys so naturally we're going to notice more flaws in peripheral areas than other people who are.) Thanks, Osbasso. Oh, and happy HNT of course. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Wed, 2007-08-22 21:55.
Smilin' Bob! That's perfect.
So, what do you do when you are going to make the transition from no HNT at all to walking in a room, hello I'm Holly and I write about sex. Talk about scary... But I'm ready.
[Funny you shoudl mention that. I'm thinking hard about outing myself a bit more too. Probably next Thursday would be most appropriate. (There's a secret I've been withholding since I started this blog and I probably need to get it out there. Not a big deal at all, nothing like an eye patch. Just something misleading about my "figleaf" alias is all.) Anyway, a) if you ever want to interview me I'm game and b) if you want to talk about *why* we get nervous about "admitting" what we do I'd lend a very sympathetic ear. Thanks, Holly. --fl]
Submitted by 1563 (not verified) on Wed, 2007-08-22 22:01.
The cropping tool is my best friend...HHNT!