Inside myself is a place where I live all alone, and that's where I renew my springs that never dry up.

Pearl Buck

My journey into self-portraits began after discovering the inspiration of others at Self-Portrait Challenge (then called Self-Portrait Tuesday). The site posted a monthly theme and then participants posted a response to the theme, through a self-portrait photograph, once a week on their blogs. This challenge pushed me to begin to dig deeper into the feelings that would come up when taking photos of myself. It also invited play and imagination into my photography and daily life as I brainstormed how to respond to the themes and then the photo would often inspire a written response (and sometimes the other way around).

Now, I no longer need a weekly challenge as my "excuse" to take self-portrait photography. Actually, in the fall of 2008, I was talking with a friend about how I rarely seem to capture photos of others when I am at art retreats or gatherings with friends. I explained that I feel pulled to experience more than document. Perhaps this is because I spend so much time alone...and suddenly I found myself saying to this friend, "I think I am a self-portrait photographer." We laughed as it seemed a bit egotistical in the moment. Later though I realized that it was beautiful and real and deeply true. I am on a journey to notice to try to be present to try to live my life with a heart open to others but also open back toward myself...and self-portrait photographs are another way I do this.

I have been inspired by many other bloggers and photographers as I have looked for ways to capture images that represent me...snapshots of a single moment on this journey that is my life.

Mirror reflection portraits are some of my favorites and I am beginning to have fun with the idea of creating a photo series inspired by one specific outing, day, theme, and so on.

See some of my self-portraits here

To read my self-portrait challenge responses, click here.

Visit and participate in the SPC flickr group here.