*This year I am participating personal project with a group of amazing photographers. We created a blog circle where we challenge ourselves creatively and technically throughout 2018. Life From This Lens is a fascinating look at how a group of photographers around the country interpret the same prompt (or theme) each month. Please follow along in the circle and see everyone’s take on the theme each month. This months theme was self portrait.*

May was one heck of a month. There were birthdays galore, Mother’s Day, our first camping trip of the season and oh so much more. Not to mention this project. Why is taking a self portrait so hard? In this day in age we take pictures all day long, we will pose in pictures that other people take of us and we look at other people’s pictures constantly. But to set up a frame and take a picture of ourselves…just us…that can be so hard. Our challenge this month was to learn about and practice the art of self portraits. Well, I certainly didn’t master anything, but I did try. Honestly my barrier was more mental than anything else (although nailing focus in a self portrait is impossible for me to learn) and your mind can be one hardest things to get past.I had high hopes for this month and am disappointed that I didn’t get more images that I liked. I truly respect and admire those that can easily and confidently rock a self portrait session. But you know what they say…practice, practice, practice. I felt most drawn to processing these in a moody, gritty black and white which I think is pretty funny since my normal day to day demeanor is anything but moody and dark. I guess that was part of the creative process for me, and it was fun to step out of my comfort zone and try something new and a little different.I had two main goals for this project. The first was to not include my kids. As much as I need more photos of me with them (I truly do!) I wanted the challenge of being by myself in the frame. Goal one – check.The second goal was to make a photograph with me looking straight at the camera. No hiding. Well…that one proved harder to accomplish.But at least I have something to keep working towards.I hope you’ll continue reading through the circle and check out the beautiful images that Jessica made this month with this very difficult Self Portrait theme.