The Importance of Self-Portraits in a Photographic Essay
The choice of this subject of self-portraits is an excellent choice for the photographic essay since it not only incorporates the subjective and objective form of taking photographs but also tends to express feeling and emotion. As such, it is a perfect way for a photographer to explain the freedom they have when it comes to describing and exposing particular aspects of their personality. For this type of essay, the sequence of images became an essential aspect of trying to capture the message the photographs need to communicate. The arrangement had to capture the whole essence of the theme and slowly make the viewer and reader not only identify with the flow of information but also immerse themselves in the aura and vividness of flow.
The Selection and Intent of the Images
The images chosen for the essay were intentional and did not involve any form of hand-picking from a list. Each picture taken had to communicate a particular message while at the same time providing linkage to the next image for continuity. The last two photographs were, in a way, unintentional and spontaneous due to the rush of emotion that had informed the previous six photos. The main obstacle encountered in coming up with the ideal image involved finding the most relevant image to express the personality element. There was a temptation to take a face self-portrait, but then there was a need to symbolize the message to make the reader more introspective of the essayist and themselves. The aesthetic element of the pictures is the lighting around it. The strength of the project is on the aspect that involves the simplicity of the images while the weakest aspect involves the unintended capture of random objects. The weaker elements could be improved by focusing on the object photographed to ensure clarity.
