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take self portraits, not selfies.
0:00 Intro
1:01 Selfies vs. Self Portraits
1:50 Studying Self Portraits
4:24 Day 1
6:28 Day 2
7:37 Musicbed
9:04 Day 3
10:20 Day 4
14:45 Favorites
Comments
22 responses to “take self portraits, not selfies.”
Dude, you have no idea how hard this hits. This has been such a struggle for me over the years, and yeah, it's why I hate self portraits. I hide behind my camera. I seldom ask to have my picture taken. Ironically, I've been in the gym and have improved my shape a lot, but that's not even my problem. It's not my body or my shape that I hate, it's always been my face.
Every once in a long while I'll get the right angle or lighting and it looks fine, but then someone comes along and snaps a candid photo of me and it shatters that image of what I think I look like, and I feel exactly like the reflection in the mylar. Misshapen.
But probably the most irritating part of all of it is that I'm likely the only one who sees that. It'd be easier if I had some obvious blemish, scar, or whatever; hell, even a giant tumor that I know would cause onlookers to stare. But nope, just me.
No one's ever bullied me for my looks. I've never had anyone come up and tell me they thought I was ugly. But still, I can never shake the feeling that there's something just ever so slightly "off" about my face, like I'm trapped in my own Uncanny Valley.
…sorry, that got really raw. Was gonna delete all that because I know the YouTube comment section isn't exactly the best place to spill guts, but idk maybe someone needs to hear it.
Anyway, keep doing what you're doing. Absolutely amazing stuff.
Stumbled on this video or some kinda divinity brought me. Either way, thanks for this. I love the idea of conveying how you feel through the self portrait, as I've tended to shy away from selfies for ages. Definitely something that's lingered on my thoughts a while after I watched your video. Take care!
I don’t have any lofty ideas about empathy, understanding myself better, or gaining insight into humanity behind my desire to take self-portraits. My reason is purely practical—I have no friends, no one to take pictures of me, and it brings me some small relief to know there will be proof that I once walked among the living.
There are probably no more than three photos of me from the past five years, all out of frame since I took them myself. Beyond that, there’s no real evidence I existed. I’d like to change that, if only to prove to myself that I was real.
Great video and conception thanks
Everything looks better with the fog.
This was so inspiring. Really hit a nerve with me. Thank you so so much.
Capo
I suffer/am suffering from severe suicidal ideation and for what it's worth, this video inspired me to maybe try and reignite my long lost creative spark, in the hope of achieving a modicum of catharsis.
Thanks for making this. You seem like a cool guy.
Sorry if this is a downer comment.
Thank you for making this video. I finally feel something after a long time.
Now I know: I loved art , I just forgot that❤
Your distorted self portrait is how i see myself in my dreams. I'm always lumpy like sloth 😂 Now I'm like damn, maybe its a message to myself to reflect on how I actually think about my own self image 😮
Where do I find unique backdrops like the one you used to get that distortion
take your finger and delete this video
a lesson in empathy <3
super cool vulnerable video!
Thank you skinny Shane Gillis
tigerwine goes hard
can you tell me about the mylar backdrop? Is it just the agricultural mylar film, or something specifically for photography? I haven't managed to find one for photography specifically and not sure that the agro ones would hold up… they look like aluminium foil, so they might crumble easily? Idk, what do you think?
This is like empathy by injection. Your crooked perception of self is extremely relatable and I hope that on occasion you feel as wonderful inside and out as you clearly are. Keep up the good work brother.
This was awesome! 🎉
Thank you for this video.
Common people: “you should be smiling in those photos”
Me: 🤦🏻♀️
“self portrait is NOT cheap selfie” – I N A