Thank you for stopping by! As I rarely have time to update this blog anymore, please come visit me at my new photoblog, Cari Berry Photography where I'll blog the occassional Beauty and the little Beast story, as well as post sneak peeks and stories from all my photo sessions. I try to give return blog love to all visitors over there, and hope to start giveaways there in the very near future!

For visitors to this blog, please accept my apologies, but I've had to turn on captcha because of the insane amount of spam comments I've been getting. Dontcha hate it when one bad apple ruins it for everyone else??!! ;)

Monday, April 20, 2009

I Heart {My} Faces

This week's challenge at i Heart Faces is the hardest yet: Self-Portrait. Here are the rules:

"...you must take the photo and you must be holding the camera when you take it (you can’t use a tripod or anything else to hold the camera for you.)"

My adult entry, ("show us your face…and your face ONLY") is almost kid-free, except for the little Beast's arms and knee growing out of my head in the background. Bonus points I think for posting a photo of me when I'd just woken up - the light was just so lovely that morning (thank goodness for naturally flat hair and photo editing tools that helped me get rid of undereye circles!).



My kids entry is Beauty and me (yes, she's eating my lens cap) reflected in Ms. Smartypants' sunglasses. I looked over to tell her something and caught a glimpse of myself in her shades. I instantly thought, "i Heart Faces!!!!" This shot was great in theory, but leaves a bit to be desired upon execution. I wish I'd moved my mom and our picnic so they weren't reflected in the other sunglass lens. I wish I hadn't had to soften and clone out all the background distractions. Any other tips for how I might've improved it?



90 comments:

Major.Sunshine said...

OMG!! The reflection in the sunglasses is AWESOME!! No... seriously, I'm in AWE! By far one of the coolest shots I've seen!

tiff(threeringcircus) said...

WOW. The kids one is so amazing! What a great idea. A winner for sure.

Chris said...

what a great pic. i like the one with the reflection from the shades! :D

MrsW said...

I just love your kids entry (not that I don't love your adult entry of course but I love your kids one!) :)

Synergy Girl said...

That is the COOLEST shot!! Wow...!! just...wow!!

The Blonde Duck said...

That sunglasses shot is really good!

Melissa G said...

Aw, you're so pretty! Your self portrait is beautiful. And your kids entry is great too! It would be a great one for next weeks challenge too, Reflections.

Sally's World said...

the reflection one is incredible...I'm going to try something like this...well...not ma...i'm rubbish...but i know someone who can!!!

Rebekah said...

Oh My Word!! Love them both. However the reflection in the sunglasses is amazing!

Unknown said...

Love love love the reflection shot!!! Very creative and it looks awesome! Nicely done

Frogmum said...

I think your kids entry is AWESOME - great that you got all those colours in the reflection too - simply brilliant :D

ღJessicaღ said...

I am with the others...Wow!!

I love how your reflection stood out so well of you and your child in the glasses and on the other side of the glasses the reflection of someone else isn't quite as bright! How cool!! Love, Love, Love it!!

Through My Own Lens said...

These are both really great and unique shots! Nice job!!! I love the glasses shot especially!

Lisa@saltandlightstudio said...

Oh SNAP girl you really nailed it this week!! I am giving you a standing ovation AND doing a victory dance for you!

BlogBaby

P.S. You are pretty, oh so pretty!

Sandy said...

Great entries! I love that sunglasses shot:0)

4chalseys@blogger said...

Your self portrait is gorgeous! And I was telling my husband that people were going to be super creative this week for the child shot.... Exhibit A. You are awesome. I love the sunglass shot. So original and perfect! Your photography is wonderful.

Unknown said...

What great entries! :-) I love that creative kids entry especially!

Christina - Rant Rave Roll said...

I love the reflection one. What a cool idea!

Amber Dupree said...

Oh.My.Goodness! I love, love your reflection picture!!!

Shannon said...

The reflection one is AMAZING! Wow. I love it.

Christal said...

great pictures! I was telling myself I needed to get creative because other people were going to be super creative, and then I look at your picture, and the contest is over! If yours doesn't win, I will be shocked! Congrats! Congrats on last weeks being a favorite too!!

April said...

That is so neat how you captured the reflection in her sunglasses! Both are really good shots!

kandra said...

I've been shy in commenting on other i {heart} faces entries, but I seriously just your kids entry! I hope you don't mind but I definitely want to try this out sometime!

Karyn said...

You go Miss Clever! Love the sunglasses and the reflection and I had to laugh at the adult entry only because you look so calm and serene and almost sleepy, like "is it naptime yet?" or maybe you were having a brief moment to yourself among the mayhem, but NOPE, there is the crazy beast in the background kicking up his legs in what can only be jumping on the bed or something, ha ha ha. Nice job!

Jessica Paige said...

Both are great but the sunglass reflection is awesome...wow!

Elaine at Matters of the Heart) said...

I love the reflection shot, great job, great idea, very cute and oh so unique. By the way congrats on the top ten last week...

Great job on the self portrait too. I tried a shot like this, and all I could say was yuck. Yours is beautiful.

Upstatemamma said...

Oh my goodness!! That picture in the sunglasses is AWESOME!!! I love it. How incredibly creative. :)

Unknown said...

A W E S O M E! Love the picture in the glasses... how creative... You have my vote!"

Rosina said...

WOW!! I love the second shot!! What a wonderful idea!

Heather said...

You always take the BEST pics each week!! I won't be surprised if I see you AGAIN in the top ten. Wow, the kids shot is SO COOL. I don't think it needs improving! And love your self-portrait, especially knowing that Beast is flailing in the background. : )

Lindsay said...

I think it's neat just the way it is. I love that shot...so cool!!!

tiarastantrums said...

oh very cool shot in the sunglasses

The Animator's Wife said...

Awesome and creative sunglasses shot. Another top ten, I bet! Great job.

Sarah said...

The sunglasses shot is incredible!!!! A winner in my book for sure!!!!!

Unknown said...

What do you mean? I love the sunglass reflection picture! It's incredible!

Melinda said...

Hello sexy mama!! : )

I am totally in awe of your reflective sunglasses pic. That has definitely got to be the coolest most creative thing I've seen all day. Great job!

Alexia said...

That sunglasses pic is amazing! I've always wanted to capture awesome shots like that!

Heidi said...

I am in love with both your shots! The first is so soft and thoughtful. I love that you have kid's arms coming out your head! It adds a wonderful dimension. :) The second is so creative and you got such a clear image. Awesome!

Rebecca said...

Carebear... you are rocking these contests lately. both your entries this week are fantastic. love the soft light and angle of your self portrait and your kids entry is da bomb!

Rhiann said...

Yes Care, the reflection one is truely inspiring!! You have always been so creative! P.S. finally updated my posts

Anonymous said...

Great photos!! Love the reflection in the glasses!

Julie Rivera said...

Do you sleep with your camera?! :) I bet this is the image your husband holds dearly in his mind's eye. The soft flare adds a dreamlike, sleepy quality to the image. And I have no idea what you would do to improve the sunglasses image. I think it is fabulous! Really inventive idea.

Mrs. M said...

I love the arms in the air behind your on the first one. And the second one - how creative!!!!! ;-)

~Thought's By Dena~/ JDs Gift Shack said...

AWESOME pictures I really enjoy popping over to see what you are doing over here!!!!! And you look good for just waking up..I never look that good!!!!

angie {the arthur clan} said...

Carebear - these are both seriously awesome. I can't even describe how much I love your Kids entry...and the Adult entry...you just woke up?! If my hair ever looked like that when I woke up, I would be deliriously happy!

Awesome, awesome entries.

~Angie
co-founder of I ♥ Faces

Heather said...

Both look pretty good to me! Your self portrait is beautiful! I wish I looked that good in the morning!

lislynn said...

Man, that glasses photo ROCKS! what in the world made you think of it??

Shae said...

very creative with the glasses.

Tonkamom said...

Those are both FANTASTIC!! The lighting in your shot is simply beautiful! And the glasses.... love it! Great job!!

Claremont First Ward said...

It's a beautiful self portrait!

Lexie Loo, Lily, Liam & Dylan Too said...

Great pics!

Melinda said...

You are so creative!!

Melinda B

Natalie said...

This is the best picture I have seen yet! How creative!

Cori said...

Thanks for the comment on my blog!! The baby isn't mine, she's my cousin's daughter that I nanny every week.
Great entries!! I love the sunglasses idea.

Amy @ Living Locurto said...

Look at you all pretty in the gorgeous light on your bed! That is a beautiful self portrait.

That kid photo is so cool! I love it:-)

Randi said...

The reflection in the sunglasses is a perfect idea! And that first one is just beautiful with the morning light :)

team krasean said...

Way cool - love the reflection.

Melissa said...

Those are both fantastic entries! I especially love the reflection - so cool!

.:: WMP ::. said...

Oh wow! I adore the kids entry! What a great reflection!!!!

Susie said...

I love the one in the glasses!! That's really creative:-)

Mominin said...

The reflection in the sunglasses is very, very cool!

And, you look great...I find it hard to believe that you just woke up!

Ter said...

I love the photos.

Ter said...

oh and I meant to say thank you for the comment you left me in my blog.

monica said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Love the kid photo. Very creative.

Rachel said...

That's what you look like when you wake up in the morning? Girl, I need a good 45 minutes of warpaint application and curl taming before I can chance not scaring the training pants off my kid in the mornings. You are beautiful!

I love that serene expression.

And the sunglasses shot is WOW! Good thing Ms. Smartypants is a cooperative subject too eh? Cuz she is also as adorable as ever in this shot! :)

Christi said...

These are the most creative ones I've seen so far. I love them both. The one with the glasses is just awesome!

Pam D said...

The sunglass pic is the best I've seen in the kids category; seriously creative! I love, LOVE it!!! (I also love the arms growing out of your head in the adult one.. that's sort of the way I feel all the time. Just wish I looked half as good cleaned up as you do right when you wake up--not fair!)

Anonymous said...

Wow, what a great shot (the reflection in the sunglasses). Very creative of you. BTW...Miss SmartyPants is a cutie, too !

~ T

LauraPBS said...

That is awesome!
Goo job!
Laura

Amy said...

Great shots, love that sunglasses photo, too cute :)

Allison Claire said...

Thank you for all your sweet sweet compliments on my pictures! Yours are so great! Both of them are beautiful! :) The sunglasses one is so unique and original, I love it!

Unknown said...

VERY creative!! And I wish I looked like you first thing in the morning! lol
God Bless,
Michelle

Mandi said...

Very creative kids photo! I love it.

Blessedw5mom said...

OMG!!! Winner Winner Winner!!!! I love this!!!

In Earnest said...

Wow! The first one is so serene and beautiful, and then I was surprised by how awesome the reflection in the second one is. Awesome job!

Lara said...

What a fun creative shot with the sunglasses! I love it!

Miti said...

Very pretty self-portraits! I love the reflection in Smarty Pants shades. So fun and creative. I haven't looked at many entries yet, but I'm sure this one is gonna be a favorite.

TuTu's Bliss said...

It's no surprise that your pictures are stunning when you are behind the camera and in front of it. I adore the sunglass picture AMAZING! (as always)

Emily said...

I have to say that this was one of my favorite shots...the most creative I've seen thus far. It's a beautiful photo and I was amazed you could get such a clear reflection in the glasses. I may have to try this one for myself...just for practice:) Thanks for sharing such an inspiring idea and for the heads up on other reflections that may get in the shot.

Christina said...

Beautiful morning photo! LOVE the reflection in the sunglasses! Great pics!!! :)

Unknown said...

What a great idea! I never thought a self portrait could be so creative, but boy have all you contestants proved me wrong... your putting mine to shame :(

Anonymous said...

Great pics, very cool with the shades.

Mommy Project said...

Oh wow! Your kids photo is really, really, really excellent!

Way to go!!!

Keri said...

Super fab photos! Lovin the kid entry. Very cool and clever. Awesome!!

Megan said...

What great pictures!! =D

Brooke said...

Wow! Your kid's entry is spectacular! I truly love it.

The Rambler said...

LOVE the kid photo.

Alicia W. said...

WOW, those are GREAT! Congrats on winning the editing software too by the way. :o)

The Riddells said...

Finally a face to go with the photos. Lovely seeing your sweet little blog, very cute.

Leigh said...

It looks wonderful!