Reflections and shadows

in Photo-essay11 months ago

A few days ago I saw a post that I liked, both the photos and the idea that the author of that post had. He got inspiration by walking through a cemetery and seeing himself in the reflection of some mausoleums that contained glass. He took self-portrait photos, very good ones. Of course he did, he is a professional photographer.

I will not tag Dimas, not to bother him and interrupt his family trip, but I affirm that the inspiration for my post came from his work. Well, it is just the inspiration that came as I can't and will not compare myself with a professional. We are not the same person either.

My shots are just attempts to catch myself in the reflection of other objects. As we know, just changing the angle of looking at things makes us think or feel differently. If I see myself reflected in someone's eyes or in the mirror, the picture can be completely different.

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The mirror is the most "cruel" item. It reflects how you are, at least in terms of your physical appearance. Wrinkled forehead. Grey hairs on your shoulder. Loose skin under your chin. It shows the lack of collagen and melanin (a nice way of saying that I am not so young anymore 😁). Thank you, Mirror.

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If I try to take a self-portrait from a distance I don't see those details that reveal my aging process. However, some very shady things were happening with this background, the abandoned premises and with me.

In this blue frame, a very dusty glass permitted me to see a door inside this place that once was a furniture shop. The result is creepy with that old car Seat and me who tried to lean on the door frame, which was just a reflection. And what was that sticker of a chicken doing there?

You better make up a different story for this photo in your mind, as the truth is that I just didn't know what I was doing. 😂

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Getting these self-portraits was fun. I saw myself in the the reflection of my husband's sunglasses, so asked him to stand still. We made two tries, so here are both photos. I like more the second photo, which is in the portrait mode.

You can see that I got some yellow glow in these reflections from the sunglasses. According to what is considered the yellow colour symbolizes, these reflections can bring happiness and sunshine, exactly how I finally feel myself after many days of fighting back a health condition I don't even want to mention.

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During this walk today, where I saw myself in the reflection of the sunglasses and the window of the abandoned premises, I tried to experiment with the window of a car. I didn't like the result so I continued walking but then shadows appeared.

Many, many lines.

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The lines from the pavement and from the shadow of the fence went all in their direction, how they wanted. No one could align them, so I appeared there, this time not as a reflection but also as a shadow, contrasting. Things don't always have to be in perfect line.

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Hello dear friend @mipiano good morning
Yes, our friend must be enjoying the long weekend in the company of his loved ones. Dimas is very professional in what she does, and she inspires many of us.
I loved the reflections in your self-portraits, and the shadow projections you have captured
Excellent shots. Thank you very much for sharing this photo essay.
Have a splendid day

Hi there, @jlufer, good evening, now when I arrive from work :D

I should not consult the mirror right now for a reflection, I would run away from it 😂

Thank you very much for your words, and a nice day to you too 😇

And what was that sticker of a chicken doing there?

Bird watching!

Truly that post by Dimas is amazing, but so is yours.
I'm glad you finally feel recovered and happy. We are all getting older, it's a law of life. And with the years some get wiser. Particularly that is a beauty that captivates me.

Bird watching!

😂😂😂

Not cluod watching? hahaha

Dimas' post is top, I just play here pressing the button of the camera 😁

Getting older is a whole topic in itself, but we adapt and accept those changes so it's all good.

Inspiration paid off, your photos are very creative. It's good to know that you feel better and encouraged. A walk full of quality light and aligned shadows XD.

Thank you 😇 Yes, finally that horribly long migraine episode is over!
Ahora tosiendo y afónica 😂 pero con esto se puede vivir!

Que bueno que pasó la migraña. La tos y la afonía...para mantenerte entretenida 😬. Estos cuerpos que enferman...con la juventud que tenemos, cuando lleguemos a los 40, no sé qué será de nosotros!! 🤦🤭🤣.

cuando lleguemos a los 40, no sé qué será de nosotros!! 🤦🤭🤣.

Bueno, tenemos suerte porque todavía nos quedan muchísimos años para llegar a esa edad. Mira que afortunadas somos.

🤣

Yo no sé tú, pero yo voy en reversa 😆🤣.

Nice to meet you Benjamina Button 😂

I will soon change my name to make it official, Benjamina Button Rodríguez 🤣🤣🤣.

I read the publication that inspired you, Dimas' work is wonderful and I learn a lot thanks to him.

I love this series, I confess that more reflections than shadows. I would highlight the first, you alone with the camera in front of the mirror and the last one reflected in your husband's sunglasses. You can guess the smile.

I hope you get better and recover as soon as possible, take care of yourself and let them take care of you if you need it. A big hug. 🤗😘

There are so many great photographers here in Hive, we can indeed learn so much.

The first one I shot from fun one sunny afternoon, almost two years ago. It waited all this time to be wakened up from a deep sleep 😁

Yes, they take care of me when I don't feel well, but anyway, I like to be "alive" like today. Gracias y un abrazo igualmente ;)))

I love shadow photography ... but yes, reflections are a definite possibility ... you have now passed on the inspiration!

The inspiration is unstoppable 😇 and I am glad if I passed it on. It is also the essence of the "spread the vibes" that was running for music 😉

I also liked the second photograph more and the idea of ​​the reflections and self-portraits is very interesting....but a lot and I liked the way you thought of taking those photographs! I'll go see that photographer!❤️

Ideas just flow here in Hive!!! Would be cool to see more posts with self-portraits, I am sure each one would use a different approach ;)

You give me things to think about....many things...first the doors and now this! Genius!

Haha, my professional deformation 😂 (to give others things to think about ;p)

Ideas and more ideas!!! Thank you so much!!!❤️

Ouuuu
The reflection image is lit. Just look at how beautiful it is. I love that creativity cos so many of us can’t even remember that a sunshade can show our reflections

Thanks. It was indeed an inspiration from another post that got me to take these photos. :D

Seeing yourself in the reflection of your husband sunglasses that means you were really focused and took nice portraits that you can use.

It was for fun, but yes, there was also a level of concentration in this activity 😉

Waoooo, those photos are interesting. I see that like me you are getting interested in photography. It's fabulous what you can do with a camera in your hand. I have enlarged the lenses a bit and you can even see the cars, the street and the stores. In the other lens at the end you can see the trees. Nice photos. Congratulations.
Nice Tuesday night. 🥰🌹

Thank you Mamani for your words, you are very kind. The only thing I know is how to play the piano - and this is just having fun and letting the inspiration guide me. (it would be good to be a bit better in photography, for sure, so I like to try to learn, as you are also doing very well 😇)

Feliz miércoles, mañana es 14 de febrero, Día del Amor y la Amistad. Muchas felicidades. Para toda tu familia. 🌹🌹🌹🥰

Así lo dicen. 😉 Gracias entonces y yo también deseo todo lo mejor para la Mamany-family 🥰

My favorites are definitely the ones reflected in @ph1102's glasses. I can't wait to do this with my girlfriend in the future XD

I like those too. He was a very good model for that "photo session" 😉

What a nice shoot. I think you're a good photographer

Thank you, I am just having some fun 😉

I just got a place to steal some creativity, I love the reflection in your husband's glasses and believe me, I will sure try this out with my husband. I hope it comes out as beautiful as yours.

Nice ones :) I use my car glass :))

Certainly mirrors are as cruel as they are fair, our reflection does not lie about what we are on the outside, but judgment is always a personal imprint. The gray hair, the not so smooth skin and the registers of age are nothing more than experience accumulated in our body. We are not eternal, and self-portraits help us to understand not only how we look or are seen, but how we want to be seen. It's been a long time since I've done this portrait practice, but the idea of your reflections and shadows have delighted me. I send you a big greeting