Self Portrait Experimentation - Elastic Heart

in photography •  5 years ago  (edited)



A few months ago I started a journey of self discovery where I challenged myself to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. The idea being that constantly doing these things will help me grow as an individual.

One of the challenges was self portraits, as well as sharing them here on Steem as part of a blockchain journal of sorts.

I’ve always been a fan of the artistic nature of self portraits, as well as the emotion that can portrayed through a photo itself. And while learning a bit about photography, I’ve been attempting to do portraits as well.

I haven’t done any in awhile, but seeing as I’m trying to get back to sharing more and being more real and personal, I figured it was a good time to get back into it.

Looking through some of @hiddenblade’s older posts inspired me to grab the camera, some tunes .. and see what story came to me. She after all she was the original inspiration that got me to do them in the first place, so it only seems fitting.

I generally try to incorporate music or poetry with portraits, but felt that these all sort of told the same story, well in my head anyways. A more raw and exposed story of the resilience of our hearts, the unbreakable will we hold within, and the beauty of embracing everything you are, inside and out.

I hope you enjoy them and perhaps they can tell a story to you as well.


”I've got thick skin and an elastic heart.
I'm like a rubber band until you pull too hard
But I may snap when I move close
But you won't see me fall apart
'Cause I've got an elastic heart“






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”You did not break me
I'm still fighting for peace...”





Much Love,

Justine


Photos taken with a Fuji X-T2/35mm

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that song is the anthem of my life! great choice of song. :)
you look beautiful in those pictures btw! <3

Thank you! I really enjoy the song too.. awesome lyrics. ☺️

No doubt about that! <3

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Hey thanks so much for the invite! I’ll try it out 🙂

Lovely and sexy. Enough said.

Thank you Drakos ☺️ 😘 *sorry for my late response.. I went a-wall for a bit.

Aaww, Elastic Heart is also one of my favorite songs from Sia. Love her much!! And glad I was able to inspire you with my silly portraits lol. My favorite is the last one. Those eeeyyes!!!! :O <3

Such a great song! It’s been stuck in my head lately.

Of course you inspire me, among others.. and they aren’t silly in the slightest, they are badass 😉

Thank you! I actually didn’t like that one and almost didn’t include it. Haha.. shows you really shouldn’t choose your own pictures I guess .. like Gandalf told me.

Thanks for the love ❤️


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Can hardly tell it is you - #nosmirk.

Great work.

Not a smirk in sight! I had to really hold back...

Thank you 😉

lele, you are gorgeous * ___ * warmth of spirit, kind of heart, and funny, and talented, and tenacious <3 and also good looking like a movie star :D waw!

so very brave :D i love the photos! the poses and the framing and the way you wear your hair are really elegant aaaaaaa

also that lines are so YOU, from elastic heart :D :D :D

LOVE IT \o/ !!!!

Awe thank you Spidey!!! You are so incredibly kind and always leave me the most thoughtful and inspiring comments, thank you for that ❤️

The third one reminds me of an old Hollywood movie poster! Nice pics :)

Old Hollywood is always a huge compliment, thanks so much I really appreciate that! ❤️

Really like the poses and the natural look on each one @justineh.

The only thing I would change would be the lights. They are a bit too 'yellow' and don't make your expressions and body shine and delivery the full potential on the shoot. Next time, if you can try to be in an environment with more white lights to see the difference. I think it will really help give your skin and lines some extra pop and smooth tones.

Also, some of your poses would really look great in a more black and white photoshoot. So keep posting more and experiment with different lights and poses since you have a very natural present in front of the camera.

Those are really great tips, thank you!

Light is something I struggle with, as natural is my favorite and so if that is not available I find it very hard to find pleasing lighting. I do like the look of “low light” but having more white light may be what I’m missing. Eventually I may actually buy some sort freestanding light which I think would really help.

I am actually playing with a few of the shots in black and white as well, as like you said, some just felt they may work in that as well. I’m a noob though and even noob in editing, but I’ll let you know if anything good comes of them.

Thanks again!

You're welcome! Even for a 'noob' like you said you are in the right track. The secret to a great photo shoot is being able to translate your natural personality and more important have some fun while doing it.

So keeping that spirit, I have no doubts that each photo that will come out from that camera, will get more and more stunning and professional.

I know how much you like doing this, but they came out just beautifully. Just plain lovely! Wonderful job!

Thank you very much! It’s funny, I enjoy the act of making the portraits now.. even though I don’t feel like I know what I’m doing.. but the act of posting them is still very painful, not going to lie. So thank you, I appreciate the kind words 🙏

Well the camera certainly doesn't dislike you miss Justine.

Also you'll be able to imbed music files into posts as of tomorrow on steempeak...not that this solves copyright violations. But still made me think of it.

Thank you Jarvie ☺️

I’m so excited to see that update and look forward to using it! Thanks so much for implementing it ❤️

I was expecting to be Rick Rolled.

...disappointed let down there, but empowering and great photos nontheless.

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LOL do I rick roll people often?! 😂

Thank you, I appreciate that 🙏

Good for you Justine! Not many folks would step this far outside their zone and its super brave of you to do so. It clearly paid off as people love this shoot! Do you think you will do this again? I am imagining a golden shoot :)

Hey you!! ❤️

Thanks so much! I have actually done a few of them on my Llfarms account previously, but not this style I guess. I’m sure I will continue to experiment a bit.

I need to get that unboxing done and then maybe I can incorporate it into the next one?

From a marketing brain though, that first image would be a good one to showcase a “piece” maybe. The “mood” fits perhaps.

I agree completely! Its like ‘natural’ theme almost in the sense that its just you and the gold, a very special element in nature.

You are just killin it lately, your steemit star is rising fast :)

Nice work! I think the last one is my favourite as you look like you're saying "WTF, it's only Wednesday?" which is exactly what I'm thinking right now as I contemplate getting out of bed to go to work...

They're all really good, at least to my untrained eye. No technical critique from me, just the basic, "yep, they're legit photos."

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Dude it’s TUESDAY!! Stop trying to force your insane, Australian, futuristic ways on the world man! We aren’t having it!!

now that that is out there..

Thanks so much, I appreciate your compliment.. trained or not! 😊

I know, it's like that movie Back to the Future, which you may be far too young to recall. 🤔 I don't even know what part of the rock you're on to be honest. Stateside I'm guessing...

Really nice photos though for sure. Tasteful.

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  ·  5 years ago (edited)

The fact that there actually may be people on Steem that are too young to recall Back To The Future made me die inside a little bit.

Yep, I’m in Cali.. and you know us Americans.. It’s our time or it doesn’t exist. 😜

Thank you ❤️

I like Americans...You always seem to know what you're getting. I'm going to go there someday. CAnt believe with all the places I've been I haven't been there yet. Maybe because America is so like Aus? We seem to have our tone set by the US you know? I'll get there someday. More keen on the faraway places than the cities though.

P.s. Knowing who Marty and Doc are makes me feel old wise.

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  ·  5 years ago (edited)

Good self portrait photography! I love them all. Art in the purest form. Bravo!! In this style of photography I would recommend to try the black and white filter, it gives a lot of expression. Try it , I think they would look even better. Specially with the two first photographies.

Awe thanks so much 😊

I need to play around with black and white more.. in a fan of the warmth though so my personal taste seems to always draw me that way. I want to explore it more though and plan on doing so in the future!

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Bernie bearing it all on the blockchain I see. Artistic Bernudes! I applaud your subtle yet masterful use of Le Tigre

😂 oh man... I should just embrace the Bernie thing huh? I really don’t want to though 😜

Thank you 🙏

You're gorgeous. I love the first one the most <3

☺️ Thank you my stunningly gorgeous, hilarious and huge hearted friend ❤️❤️ I appreciate it. *And that one is my favorite too..

I like the simplicity of these pics. Tied up hair is always visually appealing to me..

Awe thanks! I was trying to go for a toned down thing that more focused on simple lines and not a picture of some glammed up girl. Glad you like them!

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Good god sweetheart, why are you not a professional model? I'd hire you. Beauty and brains...what a combo.

tries not to stare too long

  ·  5 years ago (edited)

Lol awe thanks Witty

Just.stating.facts.

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Moaaarrrr!!! :D XD

😜 I’ll try

Nice photos

Great job for both getting out of your comfort zone and for the beautiful pictures of yourself.

Thank you, I really appreciate that 🙏

Hmm. Well thats new. Every time i drop by you surprise me.

Steenie unchained. 😅

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I’ve done self portraits before on my Llfarms account 🤷‍♀️ It’s just been awhile.

Ugh. Cmon. Lol. You know what im refering to. Thought id get a giggle out of you. 😜

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Hmmm well it seemed I shocked a few people.. so I was just responding as such as I was confused by that.. I’ve done photos.. I guess these were different. Maybe the appearance of no clothes did it 🤔

And I’m always giggling 🤷‍♀️

Haha. People get shocked easily. These photos with mocassins... Now that would shock some folks. At least me. 😂

You forget fast. Lol. But thats the internet for ya.
Sry btw for being a dick those times....

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I’m like an elephant, I never forget

And no biggie, most people are a dick to me.. I must bring it out in them 🙂

You know it wasnt like that.

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Congrats on being courageous and going through with it! Not always easy to get out the comfort zone and more in this way as well!

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Thank you! Yes it gets easier each time, which pretty much tells me that this challenge is working I guess. Each “fear” we conquer makes the next seem less scary over all.

❤️