Coming Undone

"Make a triptych of three portraits, square images, triptych size 2400x800px, resolution 72, sRGB."

It took me a few days to come up with an idea of what I would like to create. I knew this one would be self portraits, because I had planned two other shoots with people, which is already too much for me.

I wanted the three images to tell a some sort of story, so I came up with the an idea of coming undone. First I thought it could be me undressing, or taking my makeup off, or something along those lines. Then I pulled it back to a more simple and subtle representation of coming undone.

I started to play with the idea of a sales manager in the 50's coming home from work. Real sharp at first, smoking the after work cigarette and opening the first buttons of his crisp white shirt, letting loose. I obviously am a female and that was just for inspiration. I do wish I owned a tie, that could have looked nice with this image, will add that to my shopping list.

This shoot was actually quite hard to pull off, like most simple things are. The more simple your idea, the better you have to execute it because every small detail matters. The first shot had to be really symmetrical and sharp, from lip line to hat position and hairs tucked neatly. Then the second photo is more let loose, movement added from the smoking, a few hairs escaping. Third one motion blurred because she no longer cares to contain herself.