A self-discovery journey

Something I have been wanting to do for awhile now is a self-portrait.

I am the one always behind the camera. Photos of me with my kiddos are few and far between, but I have only myself to blame for that. I only need to throw the camera at someone and ask. And really, I must do that more.

The other day I realized I can use the timer on my camera, and still shoot in full manual mode. Oh, joy! The possibilities began to swarm around in my head, crashing into one another, joining together and breaking apart again. What to do? What to do!

So I did.

And in doing so, I had a profound realization, and it shook me hard. Hiding behind the camera as photographer is one thing, but looking into the lens as the shutter opens and closes is something else entirely. It left me vulnerable and exposed. It was me, not having showered for two days, with all my emotions and confusion and passion. It was me, the real me that is still there underneath the weight of laundry and dirty dishes that will never be done, underneath the fog of nights with children who do not sleep, the me that was left after pulling the baby off my hip and removing the preschoolers that attach themselves to my legs like Velcro.

I hate pictures of myself.

But there I was, and I actually loved it!

Then, I happened across the post Hello You at Shutter Sisters, and I wanted to jump up and down and scream "YES!".

Suddenly it all came crashing down on me like a flood.

There is no limit to the ways a creative self-portrait could show who I really am, no end to the fantasy an artful self-portrait could evoke or show the dreams that I hope for. The angle, the light, the focus, other subjects or items included in the shot... Me as mom. Me as writer/friend/photographer/lover/gardener. Me as simply Jess, a child of God, forgiven just as I am.

I want to take a self-portrait every day!

Well, not every day. I just don't have time for that, no matter how amazing the journey of self-discovery may be. I am a mom, you know.

I want to invite you to join me on this journey. I have no doubt it will change the way I see myself. I want to start a weekly self-portrait adventure.

The rules will be simple (in as much as there are always rules, my three-year old is becoming painfully aware of that fact).
1. You must be in the photograph in some way.
2. You must be the one to snap the shot.
3. Include a link back here to The Old Nichols Farm. (I'll try to get a grab button assembled.)

I will get the first {Not Absolutely Sure of the Name Yet} linky up on Saturday.

Find a camera. Any camera. Hold it out at arm's length, or point it at a mirror, or if it has a timer figure out how it works and find a tripod or throw it on top of a pile of laundry or a tree stump. Just do it!

My friends who think you cannot take a decent photo to save your life, guess what, you can. Just show me you. A real you, a fantasy you, a laughing you, a frustrated you, a dreaming you. You can do it. If you don't have a blog, get yourself a free flickr account and link your picture up through there.

I AM EXCITED about this, and I sincerely hope some of you will come out to play!