Do me a favor. Unless you’ve been the same height as all your partners, get out your camera, set it not at your eye level but at that of your average partner, and begin photographing yourself. It’s probably best if you’ve got a tripod, but most people don’t so you can use a dresser or shelf and maybe some books. Set the lens to as wide an angle as you can. Use a remote control if you’ve got one (lots of digitals come with them) or figure out how to set the timer. Then walk, move, get dressed or undressed, recline and touch yourself sexually, get up and brush your hair or your teeth. In other words be you, but be yourself for the camera.
Next? Prop the camera on the back of a chair around your partner’s eye level when he or she is sitting. Repeat the exercise. Finally, put the camera on the pillow next to where you sleep and repeat the exercise yet again.
Now look at the photos and compare them to the view we have of ourselves in the mirror, or looking down at ourselves.
We usually see ourselves in the mirror which, believe it or not, gives us a distorted view of what we look like to everybody else.
I could probably expound on this for paragraphs more. Instead I’m just going to say…
Try it and see.
Happy HNT (or Half-nekkid Thursday!)
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Wed, 2006-04-26 21:00.
Laundry day with noyjing to wear?? LOL! Cheers and Happy HNT!
[Thank you, Lecram! (Sorry to see the last of your sepia series. Nice while it lasted. What's next? Happy HNT.) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Wed, 2006-04-26 21:04.
Very very nice :) I need some laundry folded!! HHNT :)
[Thanks, Crimson68. (No HNT this week? Maybe just not yet. Ccool mashup of a tiger and polarbear when I scrolled down a bit. Happy HNT.) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Wed, 2006-04-26 21:06.
Happy HNT - and Happy Laundry Day it seems as well. And I like your ideas on perspective of how we see ourselves versus how others see us - vastly different I'm sure, not so sure if it's always better or worse...
[No, not *always* better, sometimes worse... usually better though. Thanks LCQAP ...since I have no idea how to shorten your name. :-) (Nice photo by the way. Are your toenails colored to match the shoes? Happy HNT.) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Wed, 2006-04-26 21:22.
I like this! I know that I see myself through different (and much harsher) eyes than my partner does.
[You've posted photos before, Julie, and I'm siding with Link on this. I'm not sure why we say things to ourselves that our friends wouldn't tolerate anyone saying about us. Especially when our friends not only have a better perspective on us (literally a better perspective as I argue in this post) but they also out vote us. :-) Thanks. --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Wed, 2006-04-26 21:28.
Open italics tag this time and can you scooch a little to the left. Your left that is.
[I get the biggest crushes on people who point out my coding (and grammar, and spelling, and logical, and rhetorical, and compositional, and, and, and...) mistakes so I can correct them, Adela. Thank you, thank you. --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Wed, 2006-04-26 21:39.
When I was writing about my HNT photo, I contemplated the differences between what *I* see and what others see, and it was... a very eye-opening experience.
Very nice HNT entry! I'm new to that, and to sex blogging, and spent quite a good amount of time here this morning, poking around and enjoying some very fine writing.
[Boing! You may be new to sex blogging but you've certainly dug right into the heart of things, Orchid. There's a lot of good thinking going on over at your blog. Blogroll for you, which I usually don't do right away. (Nice first HNT too!) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Wed, 2006-04-26 22:26.
it's an interesting thing to consider..although i haven't had that issue for 11 years or so. hubby and i are the same height. :)
you're making me feel like i need to do some work (laundry!).
happy hnt.
[Not when you're standing and he's sitting or lying in bed. It's still worth a try. (Wicked strong reds tonight, I like it. Happy HNT, Jo-dee.) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Wed, 2006-04-26 23:09.
very thought provoking post, and a loverly look at you on laundry day. HHNT!
[Thanks, Sunny! (Could I help you fold that sheet? Happy HNT?) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Wed, 2006-04-26 23:23.
When I met my husband to be, he told me that all my pictures were hung too low in my house....
He's 6', i'm 5'1"...so yeah, I know what you mean.
You look quite sexy sir! HHNT
[Yeah, that's quite a contrast and I know what it's like! I'm 6'3" and once had a partner who was 4'9" (...and, in keeping with your theme this week, yes she was in college. *You* on the other hand, *still* look suspiciously young. Happy HNT, Susie.) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Wed, 2006-04-26 23:56.
Creative shot! HHNT!
[Thanks, Andy! --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 00:04.
mmm I have a tripod.. I have a mirror.. best I get cracking with that!!
Love ya pic!
[Thanks, Winchy! If you've got a tripod you're already ahead of the game. (Butterfly season already, eh? Happy HNT.) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 01:30.
See, that's exactly why I like HNT. It's an exercise in "What I Really Look Like."
Plus, it placates our inner exibitionists.
Love the laundry series.
[Yup, instead of "what I used to look like," or "what I wish I looked like," or "what I *imagine* other people see." And most of all, "what I look like when some bozo's annoying everybody with 'say cheese.'" You just get in there and find out. (By the way, Dorothy Parker had it all wrong, AAG. Happy HNT.) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 01:39.
Very creative. Boy I need to get the ironing done.
Happy HNT ;)
[Thanks, Suze. (Those gloves are so cool! Happy HNT.) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 04:48.
Mirror, Mirror...
I have always had a love hate relationship with mirrors.
I am surrounded by them all day long and I have trained my eye to avoid my face and look only at my extended leg or rounded arm.
The result is I never EVER see the big picture.
Oh and BTW not all mirrors are alike and some do make you look shorter,taller,fatter,skinnier.
I know exactly which mirror to stand in when I work and I get upset if someone else is standing in it!
Fig I've got a boat load of laundry...come fold it nekkid. please!
[Oh yeah, you work at a fitness center / dance studio right? Yeah, it's kind of cool to see your back or sides when there are enough mirrors in a studio, but even then unless your partners are your height you're still not seeing what you see. (Of course I'd fold your laundry, Madame, after I fluffed your comforter. Happy HNT. --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 05:13.
Hot pic! HHNT
[Thanks, Scotty. Happy HNT to you too. --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 05:29.
i'll have to try this when i am better at scurrying around. good idea. thanks also for the well wishes ay hijacked HHNT
Yikes, Lime. That sounds like a horrific break! You might want to check out the reference links in this post. There's a way to configure your keyboard for one-handed typing that's supposed to be pretty great. Hope you recover soon! (Cute green cast, by the way. Happy HNT.) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 06:06.
So THAT'S why women get married... :)
Lovely Shot Fig..
Happy HNT!!!
Rey
[Thank you, Rey. (Hey, aren't you supposed to be only *half* nekkid on Thursdays? Happy HNT anyway!) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 06:35.
Whoa! Now THAT is some laundry.
malia
[Thanks, Malia. (Welcome to HNT. Good first entry.) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 07:46.
Love the shot ... laundry day inDEED! Cheers and happy HNT!
[Thanks, Camogirl. (What's the little line of lights behind you? Happy HNT.) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 08:21.
Very interesting perspective :)
HHNT
[Thanks, MG. (Looks like you anticipated my post! Happy HNT.) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 08:29.
I agree with you on the angles we view them from making all the difference in the world as to the true proportions of our bodies. HHNT!!
[Thanks, Guesswho. (Hope you break your comments record this week. Happy HNT.) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 10:32.
Wonderful as always Figleaf! HHNT!
[Thank you, Lushlyme. (Tan lines? I must not have been paying attention. :-) Happy HNT.) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 10:39.
That view works just fine for me :)
HHNT
::smooches::
Mara
[Hey, congratulations Mara. Happy HNT! --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 11:26.
We were on the roofdeck at the Rattlesnake -- I assume they were those rope lights.
[Ok, that makes sense. I thought it might have traffic in the distance or something and I was wondering W(here)TF kind of rooftop you were lying on. :-) Thanks, Camogirl. --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 15:12.
great! love the smell of fresh laundry...
and will do that. i usually put the camera in odd position anyway. this could be fun!*
happy hnt!
[Thanks, Keda. (I like the "arse-off" concept. Happy HNT.) --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 17:45.
Ooh, my boyfriend and I did this once! I'm barely 5'4" if I stretch, and he's 6'8" when he slouches...with a foot and four inches between us, we just had to give it a try.
First, we did it with the partner holding the camera, then with setting it up somewhere. Remarkably, those were different. And while we learned a lot, we actually had a really good time doing it too =)
[Cool! I love it when people have already tried my ideas before I have them. :-) Thank you, RS. --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Thu, 2006-04-27 19:42.
Do you do windows too? ;-)
Lovely!
HHNT!
[Actually I *do* do the windows. Those "Mystic Maid" high-tech cloths are incredible. No streaks, a breeze to use. If I get a chance I might try it out naked some time. (It would be fascinating to watch anyone you were attracted to wash windows. All kinds of lovely gyrations!) Thanks, Becca. --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Fri, 2006-04-28 15:20.
what a great assignment you have given us and a great HNT pic of you. have a great weekend
[Cool, that's great, Charlotte. Thanks! --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Fri, 2006-04-28 18:33.
Happy HNT! I might just have to give that a try.
[Definitely do. It's one good way to get a different perspective in general and lets you know how your partner sees you in particular. Thanks, Moosekahl. --fl]
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Sun, 2006-04-30 06:33.
Ooops..gave you the wrong website. Try again ;)
Still love this pic!
Submitted by 720 (not verified) on Sat, 2006-05-27 21:22.
I recently wrote about my new relationship with mirrors, too. You're right: seeing what others see is entirely different than the images we have in our heads.
http://smart-girls.blogspot.com/2006/05/mirror-mirror-on-wall.html
[Holy cow, Caroline, that's a brilliant post! Thanks for pointing it out! (I may have to quote from it over here sometime.) --fl]