| I am bad about taking pictures. Even when I do remember to bring a camera with me, I rarely ever get around to using it. Probably half of the pictures I have ever taken in my life are pictures of stuff in my room which I would inevitably take to use up some ancient roll of film that had been sitting in my camera half-used for months or years. |  |
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The only thing that I really do take pictures of at regular intervals is me. I guess I was about a junior in high school when my friend Travis introduced me to the idea of taking pictures of yourself. It's a somewhat problematic art. It's best done on the kind of camera that doesn't require any sort of focusing or exposure adjustment. I'm not sure what the point is, even, but it seems like a good way of keeping track of who you are. Or, at least, what you look like. |
| Sometimes it is best to take pictures of yourself in some kind of outlandish get-up. Other times it is sufficient to merely be drunk, or stoned. I have a bunch of really scary self-photos that I took when I was on acid by myself in a room. Sunglasses can be used. Various amounts of nudity are acceptable, even preferred, although one should keep in mind where they will be developed. |  |
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There's no rules about looking good or bad, but I find that generally most of the pictures are not too flattering. You may have different results. I like to try a variety of demeanors. Sometimes a nice, honest smile is good, sometimes an incredibly put-on "cool" face is necessary. If only to see how uncool it actually is. |
| I would suggest self-photography to anyone and everyone. It's fun, relatively inexpensive and charming in its narcissism. I think the earlier you start, the better. It's good to document the alienation of high school, the social excesses of college as well as the somber reality of working life. We tend to forget about these times. We tend to forget who we were. |  |
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As a wise young lady said to me a long, long time ago, "Take a picture. It'll last longer." |
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bye, mark
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