I think I mentioned I took an online phone camera photography class back in the fall, 2020. I learned a lot in this class and I practiced some of the ideas on myself. At the risk of seeming self-obsessed, I will show you some of the photos.
With a couple of simple apps there is a lot that can be done to make an ordinary photo interesting, and I enjoyed trying out the different ideas brought out in the class, such as unusual angles or cropping, blurring, or distorting. Even some plain old feet can have their moment…
Claudia McGill and Her Art World 
the photo angled cutting half your face off with the lamp is my favorite 😁
Who better to experiment on as a subject than yourself? The monochrome and odd angles make me think of German Expressionism.
It’s oddly disconcerting, but interesting, to see yourself in photos like this, I think. Just your parts, not the whole. Although with my face recognition problems, I think this is kind of the way I see most people. Their individual features, but not their overall look.
and you entertained yourself.
Yes, and that is the main thing to remember, no matter what art ideas I have, which is – enjoyment!
I like the first one the best, it highlights your eyes.
It’s fun to take pictures of your own self, and see what others see.
I especially like the blurred one. And I love that they are black and white. (K)
Thank you. The apps let you set the color in some cases and then others I changed in editing. I think it fits the type of photo the best.
The first is my favorite for reasons I don’t know yet.
I like the lighting of it.
It’s nice to see you Claudia! I always feel weird taking selfies, but I do love photography, especially black and white!
I was the closest subject to experiment on and I never complain to the photographer in the case of a selfie, so…that’s why I chose myself, because you’re right, I do feel it’s odd to take photos of myself. Though I found the results interesting!
😉☺️💕
I spent weeks exploring effects on my lap top using the Photo Booth app that comes with the mac book. I used the back ground effects “clouds” and went to town with it; compiling a large portfolio of self portraits (but highly abstracted to look like pieces of collage) that I felt are exciting. Unfortunately, it appears I’d worn that function out. But it was grand to play with while it lasted! Thinking to use the photos as basis for paintings ~
You can really get absorbed by the possiblities of photos and effects and manipulation, I have found, and you are right, it is also a great inspiration for paintings. I have also used them in collage work.