Inspirations

i generally believe self portraiture to be a very personal exploration and expression. i have always taken portraits since i first began taking photographs. Last year i did a personal project called "Vanity's a Bitch" which was a collection of self portraits dated back to 2002, but this is the first time i have taken a series of concentrated, considered portraits. i have tried to shake any fear of self consciousness which i hope translates and creates more of an impact. My 2 biggest inspirations in self portraiture however are Cindy Sherman, the queen of guise and self expression and Robert Mapplethorpe, particularly the image he took shortly before he died which was the inspiration for my image below.