Lisa Valerie's Photoblog
Self portrait Day
Posted by lisa v (Gawler, Australia) on 29 October 2008 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
This is 46 year old me.
For Self Portrait Day.
As proposed by the effervescent D.J .
Who also proposed that each person tell a bit about themselves.
So what can I tell you?
I'm Australian.
I have lived in South Australia for nearly 20 years, but was raised in Victoria, in a small coastal town.
I live in the country, on a chicken farm, with my partner.
I'm the mother of 3 sons who are 30, nearly 28, and 22, and one 14 yr old daughter.
I'm the stepmother of one 7 yr old girl.
No grandchildren yet, I'm very annoyed to report .
Zookeeper of several rabbits, cats and a dog.
Have done various jobs in my life and have just recently qualified as an aged care worker. Am about to do 2 weeks in the sheds vaccinating little chickens.
Avid photographer and reader. Love to do arty stuff of various types.
Virgo (so fun to live with, ask anyone)
Keen traveller.
And quite tired when I took this photo. I guess I could've photoshopped out the bump of the twice broken nose and the curvy scar at the nasal tip and the downward turn of the mouth but there comes a time when you have to say 'what the heck, I'm not 20' and leave it at that.
Of course a little blurriness never goes astray though ;)
Kenton from Calgary, Canada
Well done, I think this is very creative. I find it reminiscent of a 60's portrait.
29 Oct 2008 5:06am
@Kenton: Why thank you, now that you mention it I see what you mean.
Margie from Auckland, New Zealand
I like this a lot, and your commentary is great. Especially the last line! :)
29 Oct 2008 5:30am
@Margie: thanks margie
dj.tigersprout from San Bruno, CA, United States
HELLO LISA!!! Firstly, THANK YOU for participating today!! This is truly splendid indeed!!! I love the dark feel of the print -- layers of soft velvet blacks -- out of which the glow of your features emerges... as if from dream!! An amazing and magical shot -- and thank you for sharing of your life, history and personal character with us -- i wish i too was living on a peaceful 'farm' in Oz... i would love to have rabbits and chickens (and cats and dogs and ducks) to look after!!! Maybe in another life!! :) But thanks again for posting!! A truly brilliant, evocative capture -- and so nice to finally MEET you -- the pleasure is all mine!!! Bravo!!!
29 Oct 2008 5:31am
@dj.tigersprout: Thank you D.J. And thank you , and ISAO, for coming up with this idea, I've really been looking forward to seeing people.
Em!ly Ng from Residing in: Adelaide, Australia | Home:, Singapore
i like this.
it's distant. yet intimate and relaxed. i somehow sense a quiet smile.
reading ur story, i suddenly remembered u told me ur son worked in monato =)
29 Oct 2008 5:43am
Observing from West Cheshire, United Kingdom
Strong image Lisa.... and it's perfect. BTW Hi :)
29 Oct 2008 6:13am
Maxine from Rangiora, New Zealand
Wow this is really lovely, Hehe loved the comment about the blurriness! Hi there Lisa, pleased to meet you.!
29 Oct 2008 6:36am
Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Hello, Lisa, very pleased to meet you in this good autoportrait. :)
29 Oct 2008 6:50am
Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal
Hello Lisa! ;) You did a good job here, fine portrait.
29 Oct 2008 7:06am
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
Hi Lisa, lovely to meet you and I'm glad you didn't alter the 'real' you! This is a wonderful shot and thanks for sharing your interesting life:-)
29 Oct 2008 7:13am
Namaki from Bordeaux, France
Hi ! you look so young , that's amazing !
to meet me , it's here !
29 Oct 2008 7:45am
Em!ly Ng from Residing in: Adelaide, Australia | Home:, Singapore
your "twice broken nose and the curvy scar at the nasal tip" is a part of you.. i'm sure there's a story behind each eh? an honest self-portrait. u'rebeautiful, striking features.
29 Oct 2008 7:56am
@Em!ly Ng: 'i'm sure there's a story behind each eh?'...oh yeah..you don't want to know.
Thank you very much Emily, I'm very flattered.
Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand
I know what you mean with the ending of your bio ... we are the same age! ;) Lovely meeting you Lisa and the blureffect is also my best friend ;) Good luck with vaccinating all those chickens ... must be a hell of a job!
29 Oct 2008 8:30am
@Monique: thank you...yes it is a hell of a job but I've had worse.
kylie from Shanghai, China
This image is like a still from an old black and white movie. Its really beautiful with a touch of glamour, yet its also quite honest at the same time. Sorry to hear your nose has been broken 2 times! Ouch!
29 Oct 2008 9:06am
@kylie: Thank you very much kylie.
Kylie Greenan from Richmond, Australia
Hello Lisa :o) WOW, I love this image of you and I am so glad you didn't photoshop it too much, this is you and you are beautiful, you look far to young to have all those grown children and even start thinking about grand children. This image has a lovely soft, natural beautiful feel to it, well done and so lovely to see you and put a face to the name my fellow Aussie animal lover ;o)
29 Oct 2008 9:43am
@Kylie Greenan: Thank you very much Kylie, very sweet of you.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Hi Lisa, you're beautiful and I love your text LOL I'm not twenty either and did not brush anytihng...lol Love it and nothing wrong with Blurry, I say
29 Oct 2008 9:46am
Ron from Saint Louis, United States
I like this a lot, Lisa ... there's a sense of mystery about its darkness. I find it interesting that you've qualified as an aged care worker ... I hope that you find that rewarding ... I'm very much involved in caring for my aged mother (soon to be 93!) ... some days she knows me as her son and others I'm just one of the boys ... nevertheless, I know there's a reason that my journey has brought me to this place! Good luck with the chicks ... little chickens (that is)!
29 Oct 2008 10:33am
@Ron: Yes, it is rewarding Ron. Difficult and frustrating at times and quite emotional but definitely rewarding. I'm sure there's a reason, I believe there's a reason for every time in our lives.
Veronelle from Lens, France
Hello you, great composition !
my is on my site and the real here :
http://paracelsicart.aminus3.com/portfolio/52.html
29 Oct 2008 10:40am
Isao from isère, France
Happy to see you Lisa !
Nice framing and post-treatment...
My misty self-portrait here :
http://isao.aminus3.com/image/2008-10-29.html
29 Oct 2008 11:03am
MJ from Delaware, United States
nice to meet you lisa... you have such intense eyes.... nice self portrait
29 Oct 2008 12:24pm
JJ from Jersey City, United States
Hi Lisa, wonderful portrait, and interesting to read your bio, this is such a great idea of DJ's to see and leanr about others on here
love your a little blurriness comment :)
29 Oct 2008 1:11pm
Jeffster from Long Island, United States
Your very beautiful just the way you are - no need for photoshop. After reading your short biography, I think your image is a wonderful reflection of who you are. But, please don't draw the same concusion from mine. I'm actually very mature...and toilet trained as well...
29 Oct 2008 1:56pm
@Jeffster: and with better taste in beverages than the average infant ;)
Tamara from Fort Myers, FL, United States
You're adorable! Nice to finally see you!! :)
29 Oct 2008 4:03pm
Lilly and Ronnie 2¢ from Atlantic Shores, United States
Amazing how this tempts so many of us out into the light . . so nice to get an impression of you !
29 Oct 2008 5:16pm
Kingfish from Menlo Park, United States
Great reading about you - very nice portrait! The positioning of your arm, and the deep black makes for a peaceful yet strong image.
29 Oct 2008 5:59pm
Francesc B. from région parisienne, France
Hi, Lisa... happy to meet you... It's a strong portrait for me, with a very good composition playing with well distributed entirely black zones ... good B&W, and soft-glow effect....
29 Oct 2008 6:16pm
Fliss from Melbourne Beach, United States
It is a pleasure to meet you... love the portrait... I do think that B/W is so pretty...
29 Oct 2008 8:28pm
Forouz from N, Germany
You look like writers, B/W and blur make it more attractive...
29 Oct 2008 9:42pm
António Pires from Lisbon, Portugal
Nice to meet you, Lisa. There wouldn't be a better way to visit your photoblog.
29 Oct 2008 10:09pm
Twelvebit from Victoria, United States
You look tired. And you look a little bit like my wife here. I can't hear the words "South Australia" without hearing the Pogues song in my head:
In South Australia I was born
Heave away, Haul away
In South Australia 'round Cape Horn
We're bound for South Australia
Haul away your rolling king
Heave away, Haul away
Haul away oh hear me sing
We're bound for South Australia
29 Oct 2008 10:22pm
@Twelvebit: Now there's a memory. I have'nt heard that song for many years.
gbe from kansas city, United States
lisa, it's a wonderful portrait, truly beautiful.
29 Oct 2008 10:24pm
Sammi from New Jersey, United States
Pleasure to make your aquaintance. if thats spelled right. i hope you get the idea.
I'm happy to meet you, and lovely image.
29 Oct 2008 10:32pm
danthro from Suburbia, United States
great self-portrait! you look like a strong person
30 Oct 2008 12:13am
@danthro: Thanks, I think I am .
Shirin Moosavi from Tehran, Iran
You are wonderful! Simply wonderful :)
Nice to meet such a great person :)
30 Oct 2008 1:07am
KZC from Sydney, Australia
Hello Lisa - nice to meet you.
Good shot - Love the self thought pose too
30 Oct 2008 1:48am
DarkElf from Perth, Australia
Hello Lisa - i really like the way you used the light and shadow for this self-portrait, very classy photo - nice to meet you :-)
30 Oct 2008 2:05am
DarkElf from Perth, Australia
hello to a fellow Aussie! very nice and moody self-portrait, just in focus enough to see the person but subtly out of focus to work the imagination... great to meet you :-)
30 Oct 2008 4:28am
Stephen Skok from ASCOT VALE, Australia
Bugger! This whole self portrait thang has passed me by. I do like your self portrait. Well done, it provides a keen sense of who you are. Well done, Lisa.
30 Oct 2008 8:28am
@Stephen Skok: thanks stephen :)
Andrew Gould from Sydney, Australia
I'm sorry I couldn't get here yesterday, Lisa. I really like this self portrait because it has so much depth of feeling to it. The processing gives it real style, too. And by the way... you look just fine!!!
30 Oct 2008 12:49pm
@Andrew Gould: thanks very much andrew
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
What a beautiful and thoughtful self portrait Lisa. I really think the framing is exquisite, tones and processing fantastic!
Beautiful in every way...so nice to meet you :)
30 Oct 2008 1:33pm
@bluechameleon: very kind of you blue, thank you
Stephen Phillips from San Francisco, United States
Thanks so much for this lovely introduction of your beautiful self. Youth and those shiny youthful bodies we once obsessed over - are as fleeting as life itself. The freedom of maturity is in learning where light and happiness truly stem from - and in the futility of all obsessions. The morning's light is enough to summon a smile - and much gratitude. Rabbits are a bonus!
31 Oct 2008 12:53am
@Stephen Phillips: So true Stephen. I would not ever wish to be 20 again, I'm so much more comfortable in my own skin now.
Pavla from Saint James City, United States
it's a beautiful SP! You look beautiful. It's nice to hear more about you. I always wonder about people. I would love to live on a chicken farm....or any farm really....
how did you get your nose broken twice?
10 Nov 2008 5:38pm
@Pavla: Oh thank you.
The nose..violent ex-husband, which is of course why he's my EX :-)
Pavla from Saint James City, United States
That is VERY good to hear that he's EXed out! Or else Tamara and I would have to fly over to Australia and have a word or two with him and his jaw!!!
;)
take care Lisa!
10 Nov 2008 11:08pm
@Pavla: :) Not to worry, many yrs ago now.
Darlene from Los Angeles, United States
very nice portrait!
i admire your photos very much. they make me feel connected...i can relate....i've taken photos of my daughter too for years...she'll be 10 next week. gulp.
your photos seem very very special.
30 Jan 2009 6:37pm
@Darlene: Thank you very much Darlene, I really appreciate your kind words, I like your photos too :)
k@ from Paris, France
This is a very moving portrait and knowing it's a self-portrait moves me even more... You are beautiful (not only the face, the soul we can feel through) ~
20 Apr 2009 8:03am
