On the Other Side of the Lens: Self Portrait

     On first approach, photography seems like an easy art form. Anyone can aim and shoot, but when breaking down the technicalities of light, positioning, and angles, I found there were some challenges. The first challenge was mounting a camera without a tripod. I had decided the perfect location for my self portrait would be on a bridge overlooking the Trinity river conveniently located behind my apartment complex. The lighting was wonderful early in the morning and the landscape and manmade structures gave me plenty to play with. There were also metal polls which I thought would provide a good resting place for my Cannon. What I hadn't noted before were the subtle points on the tops. Although it wasn't the most professional approach, I used my camera bag to create a flat surface and crossed my fingers nothing would happen to my expensive equipment. This method worked well, aside from a few crooked shots.
      The next challenge was posing. Aside from hours spent watching that addictive Tyra Banks show, I have very little knowledge of how to position my body for the camera. After some not so flattering shots, I started to pick up on where to place my arms and how to show off my tap shoes best. I feel like the hardest part of a self portrait is the harsh amount of scrutiny we place on ourselves. It was not always easy to be objective. It had been relatively easy deciding what aspect of my life I wanted to capture. I have been dancing since I was very little and have always enjoyed tapping the best. The bridge provided a good atmosphere for the style's urban feel. After I had used the last of my camera's battery striking various dance poses on the bridge, I settled on one of my last photos relaxing on one of the bridge's benches as my final choice. Sometimes the subtlest things work the best in photography.

Sarah Greufe sits on a bridge along the Trinity Trails in Fort Worth, Texas.

 Greufe has tap danced since she was four years old.