Self Portrait Tuesday (on Wednesday).

Selfportrait


Over the last few months I have been observing Self Portrait Tuesday entries with interest. Love the idea. Love encouraging people to photograph themselves. To see themselves through the lens of their camera in so many different and creative ways.


The theme this month is Personal History. I think the idea of this theme finally pushed me over the edge into creating something. I have done quite a few scrapbook pages of myself as a child and a few which compare and contrast my life now and then. I am lucky that I have a lot of photos to look through, reflect on, and create with. Thank you Mom and Dad.


And obviously, I did not take either of these photos of myself. So I guess it sorta qualifies as self portrait. That's ok. I am enjoying the process.


As for my process, I brought the two photos together in Photoshop. I adjusted the opacity (so that you can see the younger photo of me beneath the recent one) and blended them together (so that there is not a hard edge between the two) with the selection tool by deleting one side of the "now" photo of me. I used a quote and a butterfly brushe that Rhonna created for Two Peas and a new font along the bottom called Two Peas Funky Doodles by Elsie. I manipulated the crown by rasterizing the type layer, removing the word queen, and adding in me. If you aren't familiar with Photoshop it probably sounds like a foreign language but it really is not too tough.


Looking forward to seeing more of these as they get linked up to the self portrait site.


And guys, really, thanks for all the comments on the post yesterday. Totally appreciate you guys connecting with me in regards to kids, eating out, expectations, etc.

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49 thoughts

  1. Klala says…
    01/04/2006

    Love that crown. Totally.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. melanie says…
    01/04/2006

    Very cool, Ali -- great job merging these images. So glad you decided to have a go at SPT. I was pleasantly surprised to discover self portraits to be such an intriguing way to to indulge in self-exploration and artistic expression. And seeing the various interpretations and response to each theme is always a joy.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Jane says…
    01/04/2006

    Ali - your self portrait is incredible!!! You inspire me everyday! Sounds like such a big job - but you seem to do it without effort - what a gift!
    Jane

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Lu says…
    01/04/2006

    Oh, my goodness. Seeing the small pic of you as a child really let me see you in your son. My goodness, he is a mini male version of you. Doesn't that just rock your world when you see yourself in your babies? I love your take on SPT. This is really attractive.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Angela Green says…
    01/04/2006

    Holy cow, that is one incredibly cool piece of work! I am so photoshop stupid.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. cindy says…
    01/04/2006

    Stinkin' cute. "nuff said. :-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Araxi says…
    01/04/2006

    I never have to ask myself why I keep coming to visit your blog. You just amazing me everytime you post!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Suzanne B. says…
    01/04/2006

    New to your blog, lovin' it!
    I read what you said about your child (who I am guessing is autistic) and you were wondering if you cut him too much slack....I am the proud mom of THREE special needs kids, the oldest has Fragile X AND autism. I think the same thing sometimes, that I am letting him "get away" with something. I don't think even if I wanted him to, that he would conform to what it that I want/need from him in a given situation. Jon's diagnosis came over 15 years ago and the best thing I have learned to ADAPT. Sometimes I demand things of him, and sometimes I let him coast. I try my best not to be all "willy-nilly" (is that a REAL word?) but I try and let him do what's best for himself. As much as I try to GUESS what he's feeling/thinking/needing, only he knows what in that head. And sometimes, when I let him, he finds a way to give himself just what he needs. Be it a place to howl, jump, veg or shine, he finds his place.....It might not be what I pick for him, but he knows best sometimes.
    I wish you well. I wish you peace in your day.
    Suzanne
    http://suzannebalvanz.blogspot.com/

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Melanie says…
    01/04/2006

    I've been away from the computer for a while over the holiday so it was fun to find all these treats of inspiration! That multi-layer approach you take on so many projects just does it for me. I'm always amazed.
    BTW, I'm loving the book you created just for "you" in the latest CK... such a neat idea.
    M

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. katie says…
    01/04/2006

    you're amazing! love your montage--and your new series in CK is amazing--just like you!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Annie says…
    01/04/2006

    Oh thank you, thank you for that link to Self Portrait Tuesday. How cool is that blog? Love Lorie Novak's portraits, and Dec theme was so great. Shooting your own reflection in the toaster -- brilliant! :D And your layered self-portrait rocks. You never cease to inspire me.
    Annie

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Sharyn (Torm) says…
    01/04/2006

    photoshop is definitely a foreign language..but whatever you did with it, it looks totally cool. just don't convert totally to digi, k? We pasters would be devestated.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Laura says…
    01/04/2006

    Hi, Cool and beautiful layout!! I am new to your blog but not your work. I discovered Two Peas in 2004 and you were the first garden girl I clicked on to see what the whole site was all about and needless to say I LOVE your work and that site. It really got me scrapbooking more. I am an artist/graphic designer but never really "scrapbooked" until my first child was was born in April 2004. I live in Indiana and SO WISH I could have made it to CKU in Chicago but getting ready to have my second child (on Friday!) and well let's say too much of everything going on right now, and that darn event just sells out to quick!
    Also loved your christmas layout of the square punches of all your cards! Great idea that I must steal because like you I just don't NEED to keep all my Christmas cards!
    Take care
    God Bless
    Laura Clemons

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. jen says…
    01/04/2006

    ok...so you are totally inspiring me to finally dig into my photoshop program...although i think i will need a photoshop translation book for everything you just explained! LOL! :-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Flo says…
    01/04/2006

    So cool! Ain't I lucky one of my friends just finished a photoshop course -- may have to ask her for lessons :-)

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Amanda Mankin says…
    01/04/2006

    Love love love this! It totally makes me want to do more about growth and how we change over the years, how Joy transcends time and we smile and grin at every stage of our lives. :) Thanks for sharing this!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Jenn N says…
    01/04/2006

    Ali, this is an absolutely beautiful piece - thanks so much for sharing it with us. Everytime I see people's work that use Photoshop, I keep thinking I have to get in to this. Now I am going to for sure!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. liz elayne says…
    01/04/2006

    Fantastic! This is beautiful...love the way you layered the photos.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Rachel says…
    01/04/2006

    lovin' those combined (both fabulous) pics Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Veronica says…
    01/04/2006

    Very cool ali! I definately have to find me a photoshop course over here ( western australia ).
    I just wanted to quickly add i have a high functioning autistic 11 year old boy. As most people have said the reward thing works. We also choose how important it is to be anywhere like that for longer than he can tolerate. He has had extensive training in understanding his early warning signs which helps him communicate to me his agitation and why, and sometimes we just go somewhere quiet, quick chat, slow breathing and have another go. If it all seems too much with the over stimulation side of things we go. We take the good points of the excursion and remind him and use it as a learning tool.
    They are square pegs these kids and the rest of the community has to stop trying to put all kids in a round hole, so as you have to, change what you need to suit YOUR child. I am much happier having happy memories than memories of battles. 123 Magic is brilliant for these kids as well.
    Sorry I went on a bit but am very passionate about this topic and love my son to the end of the earth, and thank god for his qualities and that he is high functioning, nearly every day! Power to you!
    Hugs V
    Veronica

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. sheri says…
    01/04/2006

    Love this Ali.
    Always cool stuff on your site.
    Have to agree with a previous poster....don't go too digi on us. We need
    paper girlies too.
    You have oodles of talent.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Allison K says…
    01/04/2006

    so beautiful!
    so beautiful!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. shawn b says…
    01/04/2006

    Love the selfpotrait piece. I wish I was able to work in PS...have it just can't master it. Can't even do simple brushes for techniques. Ugh. It's glue and paper for me only I suppose. Great job, keep inspiring us.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Andrea W. says…
    01/04/2006

    love your layout so much!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Missy_G says…
    01/04/2006

    Very cool!

    Reply 0 Replies

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