Self Portraits with Virginia Lowes

I used my first instamatic camera to take photos in my bedroom of my teenage sister dressed as Sheena Easton or Kim Wilde. Technically they were awful photos but those images are priceless. At college and over the next couple of decades I always had a point and shoot camera, keen to document parties, friendships, family gatherings. I lived in London and haunted galleries and photographic exhibitions whenever I could but not with any thought of doing much with my own photographs. Aged 30 I moved to Amsterdam, bought an SLR and learnt to develop my own photos. I think this signified a change in the way I took photos. I’m still very straight in what I take. I only use a couple of lenses and a Canon 6D. I try to do as much as I can on the camera rather than relying on after-editing. I see shapes, colours, expressions, moments between people, so I suppose I still think in a documenting way, and take a shot if I think someone else will get pleasure out of that moment in the future. 

I love to go out with friends and mooch around taking photos : urban or rural, busy or quiet.  I love to be playful with the ideas. I’m really happy to be on a journey continually learning and every now and then look back to see where I’ve been! 

I’ve always felt self portraits were a bit self indulgent. But when I started the Gather Academy 365 this year I thought - I need a new challenge, I’ll make  myself a bit uncomfortable, that’s always a good position for me to be creative. So I aimed to take more self portraits. I have interpreted the idea of self portraits as images that represent some aspect of me; perhaps that day, that moment or possibly every day. Health, family, interests, passions, routines, irritations, worries. 

I have been surprised at how easily I have shared these images. I have been less concerned about how well composed or how technically accurate they are, because it is so much more about the story within the image. 

I’m really grateful to April for asking me to share something about my self portraits and happy that I am included in this Gather Academy 365