Self-portraiture holds a very special place in my heart.  A few years ago I attempted the ‘365 Project,’ its a phenomenon on the photography site Flickr where people pledge to take one photo of themselves everyday for one year.  Well, I only made it to day 143, but the amount that I grew in my photography during that time is immeasurable.  Photography for me isn’t just the act of taking a picture.  When I need support, when I need release, when I need to feel the most ME, I pick up my camera.  Life has been tough for me recently, and I’ve needed my photography more than ever.  I haven’t put any of my self-portraits on the blog before because I want this to be a place where I display my more commercial work, but this series of photos really encapsulates my style and vision as a photographer and artist.

So try not to get too tired of my face, and instead focus on the composition, light, and colors.

I listened to the song Standin’ on the Whippgrass by Justin Vernon (now known as Bon Iver) before braving the cold for this shoot, and the lyrics and song fit quite well with the end result.

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The song is pretty hard to find, so this is the best I could do.  It doesn’t really get going until about 1 minute in, so skip ahead if you’d like.

Lay low little babe

You’re still my precious child

You’re all old and grown now

But you’re still the same inside

Standin’ on the whippgrass

Standin’ on the whippgrass

Sittin’ on the whippgrass

Watch and see how we last

You’re not alone tonight, babe

You’re not so far from your home

You got the strength of all us, babe

I give a prayer unknown

Sittin’ on the whippgrass

Sittin’ on the whippgrass

Just sittin’ on the whippgrass

I’m so full

and this is so vast

I know we’ll all be together, babe

Someday, somehow

Carry to a higher bound, babe

It’s not a sight or a sound

Smokin’ around

It’s within me somehow

I’ll carry to what I am bound

The truth that I have found

Standin’ on the whippgrass

It moves along the whippgrass

It moves along the whippgrass

It moves along the whippgrass

It moves along the whippgrass

It moves along the whippgrass

See how it lasts

It’s within me somehow

I’ll carry to what I am bound

xoxo,

klc