Monday, January 4, 2010, 09:30 AM
About a month ago I did a post on the importance of a self portrait in the life of every artist. While I was writing that post, I got to thinking about how interesting it would be to see the self portraits of some of our blog readers, thus the making of this post! Taking a self portrait and putting it on display for the world to see can take a great deal of courage. Many of these images made me stop dead in my tracks. The honesty runs thick through many of these frames. I had so much fun putting this special post together and meeting many of you "eye to eye" for the first time. I thoroughly enjoyed reading so many of your vulnerable stories and heartfelt e mails. And I loved visiting many of your blogs last night as I set up the links below. 

One thing to consider, whenever you feel like you have "nothing" to shoot or create; you always have yourself as a subject. That is the beauty of a self portrait. And when we take a self portrait, we are forced to look at ourselves with new eyes... with honest eyes.  I believe it is in these beautiful moments of looking within that we discover truths about who we are, our desires, our fears, our hurts, our passions & our deepest longings. 

This project has inspired me... My goal is to take one self portrait per month throughout the course of the next year... we'll see what I un-cover ;) I would challenge each of you to do the same and perhaps we can share our results along the way.  **We decided it would be cool to do a quarterly blog post of future self portraits.  Feel free to send  High Res/Untagged images  to selfportrait@sarahrhoads.com**

Self Portrait Photo Credits are as follows:
10 Amy Swift
11 Laura Pyles
25 Jennifer Villamil
28 Anna James
32 Amaris Kress
37 Ashley M. Whitlatch
60 Mark Alvis























Thoughts
Add a Comment View Comments (45)
Emilie says: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 02:28 PM

This is such a fab idea! I'm in!! Awesome self-portraits!!!

Rog says: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 02:19 AM

The last ones my favorite! the last ones my favorite!

Mercedes says: Sunday, January 17, 2010, 05:18 PM

This is a really great project,it was interesting to see all the different ways people see themselves. Such creativity!

jodie says: Saturday, January 16, 2010, 05:20 AM

All I kept thinking while looking at these images was how beautiful each person was. How everyone is beautiful. My favorite image though was the man taking the trash out. I need to get that shot of my husband!

Leah says: Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 07:00 PM

Love this project. Thanks for putting this together here.

ohana photographers says: Friday, January 8, 2010, 09:47 AM

love every.single.image.

Anna says: Friday, January 8, 2010, 01:32 AM

This is such a great post. To see such a great collaboration of photographic effort put in for a single theme...ahh, so interesting and unique, and happy to be a part of. Thank you for sharing.

Stephanie Dana says: Thursday, January 7, 2010, 02:55 PM

awww, these look so great. i love this post and can not wait to do more through out the year!

Rebecca says: Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 08:35 PM

I love all of the creative self portraits - what a fun assignment. Nice work everyone!

Adam Cavanagh says: Wednesday, January 6, 2010, 01:04 PM

wow such wonderful work by everyone

Amaris Kress says: Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 07:48 PM

This is such a beautiful collection! The significance of what you are referring to is seen so clearly by it. Thank you for allowing us to participate. So much respect for you guys!

Allie says: Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 06:26 PM

Brilliant!

Heather Gilson says: Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 05:17 PM

This was always my favorite assignment (self portrait) to give my photography students back when I was an art teacher. This is a lovely collection of moving images. Can't wait to see more throughout the year.

sharalee says: Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 03:41 PM

love love! these photos are amazing...exhilarating to see mine in the mix! thanks for the opportunity to bear our souls!

Alex Evjen says: Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 08:10 AM

Very inspiring! Thanks for sharing.

Jennifer V. says: Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 06:46 AM

What an honor, thanks for including me! So inspiring to see the creation of others!

Allison says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 09:40 PM

I love this idea~ Its so good to challenge yourself and get in front of the camera for a self portrait! I am excited to rise to the challenge! Thanks for sharing!!

evelyn says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 08:10 PM

wow. you guys ROCK.

thanks for taking the time and sending us also an e-mail.

very inspiring work. Evelyn

Sharon says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 07:47 PM

What an amazing collection! I loved the idea! I could use all those self portraits to decor my walls =)

Lara Beck says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 06:32 PM

What an honour to be included in your blog post....Thank you!! :-) There are some absolutely fantastic shots here!! :-)

Cameron Ingalls says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 05:52 PM

yea-yeah! fun to be in the mix. some great self portraits here!

Kaysha says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 03:41 PM

These are all so awesome! Thank you for posting my portrait, and especially for your kind email! It means a lot that you took the time to reply! :)

Stevie says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 02:27 PM

This is a beautiful post. It's such an inspiration to see so many creative faces. Thanks for including me.

Emma Case says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 12:27 PM

Ahhh Sarah and Chris... you have made my year... already! 4th January...that's pretty good going even if I do say so myself! Pretty amazing to be sat amongst such a talented group. Thanks for being a daily inspiration. x x

Patrina says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 12:10 PM

So fun to see all of these. I love it!

Kayla Barker says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 11:49 AM

Yay! Thank you so much for including me! Loved all the photos!

Jason Williams says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 11:45 AM

Extremely honored and humbled to be part of this project (and to be on the infamous Rhoads blog :)...keep up the fantastic art Sarah & Chris, you're an inspiration.

Amanda VanVels says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 11:27 AM

Thank you so much for putting some of my photos up, guys! I have never felt so honored and I mean that!

Chris Rhoads says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 11:07 AM

Hey Rob looks like you overlooked it, if you look at the text there is a list of all the 65 photographers as well as links to those who have websites.

Rob Greer says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 10:56 AM

I wish you had posted the names and URLs for all of these photographers ...

Mary says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 10:38 AM

I'm honored to be among such gorgeous photos. Everyone's portraits are seriously amazing!

Krista Leigh Hurst says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 10:29 AM

Such a beautiful idea! I would love to share my self portraits with you through out the year!
Just Wonderful!

kirsten says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 10:14 AM

this post is such a great idea, i am totally down with 52 portraits a year. i have heard of 365, but i think 52 is much more manageable with the same impact!

Alexandra says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 10:08 AM

Wow. These are amazing! Thanks for the inspiration :)

Millie says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 10:06 AM

Wow! If anyone came into this post feeling uninspired, I am positive they didnt leave that way.

Gary Christenson says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 09:58 AM

Awesomely fun post guys :)

Janet McK says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 09:56 AM

yikes. these are all so inspiring and challenging! I need to quit being such a pansy and do some self-portraits too. (oh, and the one where the 2nd picture was a closer-up? totally freaked my brain out. i'm the kind of person who thinks a restaurant with a wall of mirrors has an extra room. totally cool! Eliesa Johnson, I think.)

Julie Watts says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 09:51 AM

Breathtaking and inspiring.....it fills my heart up knowing there's all this creation and expression in the world!

Cait says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 09:47 AM

Wow. Thanks so much for sharing these! I'm putting the self portrait project on my list of resolutions/goals. I can't wait to look back at my life in pictures at the end of this year and see where I've come from. Thanks for inspiring me.

anda says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 09:46 AM

wow -- these are all fantastic! so many beautiful people out there in the world. great idea -- and a great response!

Marissa Rodriguez says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 09:44 AM

These are amazing! It's so wonderful of you to put this post together! Seriously, you always inspire and are by far one of my favorite photographers. I wanted to try a self portrait from the last time you wrote about it but I slacked so now I'm thinkin' I'll definitely get to it!

Harmony Loves says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 09:42 AM

ingenious idea. I loved all the images.

Miriam says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 09:40 AM

Gosh! Sooo many beautiful faces!

Kat Braman says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 09:37 AM

what a cool series of shots! love love love that yellow phone.

eliesa says: Monday, January 4, 2010, 09:37 AM

Very, Very cool. Rock it out everyone. LOVEe