13: Guilty Secrets

This one was simple to set up, and the idea grew out of the concept that it would be interesting to take something from one image and show it in the next, here the brandy glass appears in yesterday's image.

Guilt though, is hard to define as it means what we expect from society and what we personally desire are not the same things. Do we need this acceptance of two levels in order to survive by defining something that is ours and not simply doing what society has already defined for us? Perhaps we are not machines, and the laws we define are nothing more than an expression of our need to rebel or laziness in solving problems at source.

I decided to fool the guilt in people by mixing masochism with the worship of feet - a successful mix as it turned out. I was also pleased in how effective it was, partly because it was a difficult pose to hold for both of us - Ania had cramp in her toes while I was on my knees with my neck cranned hard up against the cupboard behind me.

2: Colors Not Found In Nature

Well, if the first image had been a worry, the second more so - how was I ever to match the level of my first entry? Luckily, while having dinner with the family, I had rolled up my yellow napkin and it occurred to me that I could place it behind my glasses to produce a funny eye to entertain everyone for a moment, and give a niece the opportunity to use her new, 'professional' as she described it, camera. Yellow and white were not normal eye colours, I reasoned, at least not in this intensity.

The hardest part of using this technique for a self portrait is the fact you can barely see what you are doing, although it did give me the idea that a small mirror behind the camera could be useful in that I would be able to see if I was actually getting the shot I was after. Several shots were wasted with my head not being visible at all, but eventually I got this one. Only minor trimming of the image was required, which was lucky as I had another appointment soon after.

I was also concerned that my psoriasis would be visible, but I reasoned that since I had joined a self-portrait group, sometime my skin problem was going to become visible to other members: I could not hide behind doors forever. Only a little of the psoriasis was visible, good enough I though for an introductory image.