Sony a7riii | Velvet 56 | 2.8 | 1/160 | 800
Within the enchanting world of art, there are tools that transport us to realms of ethereal beauty and enchantment. For these recent self-portraits, I embarked on a journey guided by the whimsical lens creations of Lensbaby, specifically the Soft Focus II and Velvet 56 lenses. These magical instruments allowed me to capture ethereal moments and immerse myself in the mystical allure of my surroundings.
Read MoreLet’s talk Tarot!
How can the Fool card relate to your creativity? I like to think of the Fool as having a beginner’s mind.
As artists, how can we embody the Fool’s energy? Look at it as an invitation to approach creating with a beginner’s mind.
The Fool doesn’t have life experiences under their belt. Because of that lack of experience, their mind is more open and free. What is there to hold them back?
Embodying the Fool might look like creating for yourself and not fearing what others may think. It’s taking chances and trying new things. It’s like seeing things for the first time and not having outside influences.
Approaching your work with the Fool’s energy might help you feel more creative freedom, and with that comes growth. Experiment! Have fun! Create for YOU!
Sony a7riii | LBSFII | 1/200 | ISO 320
Sony a7riii | LBSFII | 1/200 | ISO 320
Self-portraits taken with my Lensbaby Soft Focus II optic. As a Lensbaby Ambassador, I can offer you a discount on your purchases. Use the code wsharon or click this link to be directed to their website. Comment or email any questions, and I’d be happy to chat!
I've recently had a spark of creativity that has resulted in a new way of creating for me. I've been breathing new life and meaning into self-portraits I have already made. It began with taking a print of a recent self-portrait and poking holes in it. I needed pins and needles of various sizes and some cork board to put behind the printed photo. This technique is something I have wanted to try for years but never took the first step. Next, I found a light to shine behind the print and used my camera to take a picture of the altered print. This was the result.
Another thing I tried was using gold leaf paint. When I shared this next self-portrait on social media, several people thought I had used some type of overlay in Photoshop to achieve this look. Again, this was a print of an older self-portrait I had. I splattered gold leaf paint on top of the print and then photographed the print using my Lensbaby Velvet 56.
For this last one, I used a 2.5-gallon fish tank. I took the printed photograph, submerged it into the tank, and shook the tank to create movement in the water. Then, I took a picture of the picture.
Many viewers assumed my end results were all achieved in Photoshop. The process of making these felt important and therapeutic for me. I wasn't sure how they would turn out and was intrigued by the fact that these photographs would be forever altered and have new meaning. There was a quality of permanence to them that they didn't have before.