Since I was stuck laying on the ground while my friend attached string to me (from the “Bleed” photo shoot), I resorted to taking pictures to give myself something to do. I got a little more “experimental” than I usually do with my shots, mostly due to the fact that I wasn’t able to look where I was shooting for a lot of them.
I have had this shot in mind for quite a few weeks, and finally got around to it this weekend. It isn’t quite as relevant as it was when I thought of it, but still is packed with meaning for me.
This may have been the longest it has ever taken to set up one of my pictures too. I had scoped out the location a couple of weeks ago, so I didn’t waste time trying to find one. But, once we got on location, I had to find the right angle for the camera, and then the right angle for me to lay down. Once I figured that out, I laid down amidst countless spiders and other creepy crawlies, and my friend attached red yarn to me and the trees around me. It was weird for me to not be the one physically setting up the shot, and I just had to lay there and direct him since I was attached to branches all around. It rained fairly hard twice while I was laying there, and I flicked off quite a few spiders throughout the process.
Overall it was quite the shoot. I wish that the yarn was more visible and obvious, and pulled tighter to prevent the slack, but it is just yet another lesson learned.
Well, all of the images are finally up on the site for the contest! For the first time ever you can see the entire series, in the correct order, and in one place in an online format! Please remember to go vote and spread the word!! Thank you for all the support! But, if nothing else, at least go check out the series!
This really isn’t at all what I originally had in my head for this shoot. But, it was rushed, and not planned out all that well, and life goes on. I don’t normally do this, but I will briefly try to explain what I had planned…
I had found a tutorial online for how to make these beautiful twine balls, using balloons, glue, and cornstarch. Right away I knew I wanted to make some for a self-portrait shoot. It was quite fun to sit on the floor and make these, and for the most part I think they turned out pretty cool. I just used white yarn, and then once dry I sprayed them with white spray paint to get a very bright white. Originally I had wanted to find a clump of beautiful blooming trees, ideally big pink blossoms. In my head this clump of trees would create a shelter like setting, and I would then hang the yarn balls and sit beneath them with sun coming through the branches. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a location that matched what I had in my head, and I got started to late and ran out of bright sun. It may be something I try again at some point, but I had to deal with what I had available at the time, and I am fairly happy with what I got for the circumstances.
Also, I just entered a contest that has the potential to completely change everything for me. It is a self-portrait contest, and I have submitted the series that I am most proud of, from this past summer. There is a “people’s choice” award, and I would so appreciate your vote! All you have to do is go to my portfolio and rate my portfolio 5 stars. No registration or anything necessary, just a click. You can vote once daily, until Wednesday, April 20. I cannot even begin to express how much I would appreciate your vote, and how much I would appreciate you spreading the word to everyone you know! Just click here to go to my portfolio. Thank you so much for the support!
I had a fantastic review for student teaching today, and the weather is beyond perfect, so I decided to celebrate by buying some fresh rosemary and grilling some potatoes and chicken.
I had plans for an elaborate, complicated self-portrait shoot this week, but things happened, plans changed, and I didn’t get to do it. I was going to try again tonight or tomorrow night, but my hair was looking wonderfully curly yesterday afternoon after letting it air dry and so I spontaneously took some simple shots just in case. It was an extremely rushed shot, and because of this is it very similar to a couple of other recent (or somewhat recent) self-portraits. Since it was so similar to other self-portraits I decided to play with editing more than I usually do. Needless to say it is not my typical style, but I love how it turned out.
Only three more weeks of this project, and I am already getting sad that it is coming to an end. I have three BIG ideas for my last three shots though, so I only hope they work out so I can add something a little different to the project still.
This was the close runner up to last week’s self-portrait. I kept going back and forth between the two, so I thought I would upload this one as well.
I was stuck in bed all day yesterday with an awful stomach virus, so I just got around to last week’s picture today.
Abigail Thompson Photography 