Showing posts with label self portrait therapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label self portrait therapy. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

dance yourself clean.





My girlfriend keeps pointing out that I haven't written in my blog in a while, that I haven't taken pictures in a while. I haven't finished my book. It's things like this that remind me just how special she is. That not only is she interested in what I have to say and do, but that she wants to make sure that I keep at things that make me happy. Things that I do for me. Because, sometimes, I do put these things to rest, as it's documented right here on this blog. 

Honestly, I write the most when I'm not happy, when I'm sad, or when something is weighing so heavily on me that there is nothing that I can do but write to release that pressure. When something pivotal that tests me is happening. These are the times I write the most. Which led me to the realization, that I already knew, but it really set in just how happy I am.

This weekend was really momentous. All day Thursday at work, my stomach was in knots and I was anxious and nervous, like I was getting ready for a first date. Katheryn was being weird and I just had this feeling that she was going to come see me, but at the same time, I kept telling myself that there was no way. It hit 5:00 and my friend text me that she was here to pick me up, but when I walked outside I saw Katheryn's car. I just started shaking my head, because I couldn't believe that she was here. I couldn't believe that this woman had been planning this with my friend, that she wanted to drive 300 miles on her only days off to come and see me. She opened the door and her long legs hit the ground. She looked fucking beautiful. I just hugged her and kissed her, I missed her so much. She opened the back door and pulled out large, bright sunflowers. My favorite, and they were the best looking ones and they smelled so amazing. I couldn't believe that she was here. She told me that she came to tell me something.

Friday morning she drove me to work. It was so strange having her in my bed on a day that she shouldn't be. Being a part of my normal, everyday life. I remember looking at her in the car and just feeling so fucking overwhelmed. I laid my head on her shoulder and she wrapped her arms around my head and kissed my forehead and my heart just felt the fullest it's ever felt. Those small moments, you know, there's nothing bigger than that. 

That night we went to dinner and then to meet some friends. We parked, and she turned off the car. She looked at me and told me I was gorgeous, and like most moments with us, the world fell silent. She kissed me and in between she started to tell me what she came here for. "I came here to tell you, that I've fallen in love with you." I couldn't speak. She told me that she knew the first time she saw me, and our first date. I didn't tell her, but I knew too. I knew that morning when she took me to work. I felt it when I visited her in Houston and sat across from her at the coffee shop, and watched her drink her latte and read the paper, and how ever detail about her, every small, tiny, intricate detail about her from the inside out was everything I never even knew I wanted, everything I ever dreamed and things that I couldn't possibly even dream of because I didn't know their perfection. There was ink on her fingers, and she looked up and smiled, and I felt it. 

We cuddled all that night in our sleep. She left that morning before 8 AM. We were so tired and our goodbye was made of sleepy eyes and little brain function. By the end of the day, I hit a wall. The distance of our relationship really fucking sunk it. The reality of it all. The reality that this is it. This will be it, and it's not changing. Not anytime soon. That the woman that I love lives in a different city. Saying those words out loud, saying them made it real. And everything sunk in, and I haven't been able to really feel better. I'll see her in a little over a week, for a day and a half. I'll see her that next weekend for a week long trip, and I can't even fathom what it will be like to have so many days with her. I can't help but think of what that goodbye will be like, because every moment I'm with her, I fall more in love with her, and how am I supposed to say goodbye after 7 whole days of falling in love with her?

So, that's why I took pictures last night. Because there's nothing like a hot shower when you're down and out. There's nothing like the water meeting that of your eyes, because there's something so much more than cleaning the dirt of off your skin, washing off all of your makeup, being naked and vulnerable. It's a therapy, it's your time to think and be alone with your body. They always make me feel better in a way, they at least let me think, get my head straight, but I don't feel much better. I've never been in a relationship where the simple things aren't so simple, because the simple things are my favorite, and it's not fair that I can't have her over to cook dinner with and watch a movie and fall asleep halfway through because I'm so comfortable in her arms. Or take her on a date, or just lay around on a couch with her. Or just drop by her work and see her for just a second, just a second because that's all I need to feel better about anything bad that might be happening in my day. I know we can make it work, because even so far away, I feel her more than I've ever felt anyone that's tangible in my day to day. 

Sometimes I still have to take a second and remind myself that Katheryn is real, and that she loves me. She loves me. I can't believe it, but I'm glad she does, and how can I be sad when I know this?

Monday, March 31, 2014

the skin i'm in.




I took these self portraits on Friday, 3/28. It's a pretty big step for me, to have these pictures, these pictures in my underwear. Something that I pushed myself to do, why I take self portraits in the first place. To many, self portraiture may seem vain and narcissistic, but for me, it's quite the opposite. No, for me, it's therapy. It's a way to give back to myself, to push myself, to become comfortable in myself. All my life I have struggled with insecurity, body shaming myself, being self conscious. It's something that has been improving over time, and self portraiture has become a small remedy for that. Standing in front of the camera, letting it capture all of my flaws, seeing these flaws, and embracing myself. Seeing myself as the world sees me and not this idea of myself that I have in my head. Being comfortable with what I have, because, it's all I have and it's not going to change. This is who I am right now, in this point in time, this is what I look like. There's not use in hating myself, or not believe people when they call me beautiful, I have to believe it.

So, I did it. I took these pictures. I took these pictures to show myself that it's okay. That maybe I can be beautiful the way that I am, today.

Because lately, I am feeling more beautiful with these bones. In this skin, and everything that comes with it. I have Katheryn to thank for that also. It's nice to have someone around you, who looks at you in such a way where you have no choice but to believe them, you can see it in their eyes, feel it in their touch, feel it everywhere.

Featuring: Bubba Moonbeam. Be the person your dog thinks you are.

All photos taken with Canon EOS Rebel 350D.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014




Well, well, well. Hasn't it been a hot minute since my poor canon has seen the lights of day.

To be precise, it has been since 2013 that I have taken any self portraits, or even photographs on my canon at all. Luckily, I haven't been completely useless and have still been venturing around with my Polaroid or Instax, or sometimes both, hanging from my shoulder. My iphone has been a trusty substitute.

Honestly, my life has been moving at a hyper-speed that I'm not quite used to. It all began with stretching my social butterfly wings as I had been locked away, avoiding friends to avoid conflict, to avoid anything, I guess. This whole new lease on life, unleashed on me and I have been quite frivolous and probably a little too social for anyone's good, especially mine, but I won't take back anything at all, because it has been magic and brought back this thirst for life, and led me to meet my muse, Katheryn.

Her face will be gracing this blog soon, I'm sure. However, not as often as I'd like as she and I are getting ourselves into one those long distance romances. Which, considering our sentiment and intellect find this rather romantic, for now. I can't wait to send her cute things in the real mail, and anticipate the days leading up to her receiving packages because life is all about instant gratification these days, and we forget what its like to wait on a package, to wait for a sweet reaction from a beautiful girl, to wait to see your significant other, the yearning, the build up, it's all so much magic.

So, here is to me, being back to me. To this beautiful self that was lost for a while, but is back, and motivated and ready to keep improving and constantly striving to better myself, and to this life with this new light.



Pictures taken with my Canon EOS Digital Rebel 350D, on the balcony of my apartment I'm learning to love. 

Thursday, December 5, 2013

11/365.


despite the obvious death in my family. i have been feeling so great lately.

i've come back into my own. in a relationship with myself. growing stronger, more confident, driven, passionate and ready to grab my life by the tits.

i'm excited for the future. i'm excited to make my life what i've wanted it to be.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

3/365-10/365. currently.

3/365
 Took an outtake from an old 365 to make up for the days lost.

my aunt died on wednesday, the next day in my 365. i didn't have any desire to do anything, then i went out of town, left my camera due to a preoccupied mind and my 365 fell short. came home last night and attempted to sleep. back on it today.

4/365
 another oldie. we've seen this one before.

5/365
 an outtake from one of my favorite self portrait therapy sessions.
6/365
 thanksgiving day. i took my dogs to the park. it was lovely out.

7/365
 another gem from thanksgiving. the fall colors are so vibrant, i mean how could you not?

8/365
 i always love finding feathers. even though i know that they're disgusting, i can't help but always pick them up and twirl them around in my hand.

9/365
 i always find smoke so beautiful.


10/365
all caught up. my mom's home looks like a swanky brothel.

Monday, November 18, 2013

self portrait therapy.





some much needed self portrait therapy.

my life is changing every day.
i am changing every day.