I've been looking at a lot of work lately in between making work. I see some students making self portrait images and the idea of self has really intrigued me. I think some people are never themselves in front of the camera--always needing to pose, be the portrayal of themselves that they project for the camera. I think others try to be themselves, but the key word is try. If you 'try' to be yourself you're not really being yourself. Its slight difference from the person always posing. Then there are the rare folks who are just themselves and the record of them is genuine. I think I mostly try to be myself in front of the camera but never really think I make it when I'm making self portraits. There have been a few, but they are rare and even the successes I think don't quite make it. I always think I'm searching for the true portrait, but in client work, where the person isn't always completely happy with themselves, they want an image that represents an ideal of themselves. Its funny, I've grown accustomed to this over the last few years, but I still seek out that one or two images that I feel I really grasp onto something beyond a projected image. When I do get this it really stands out to me. SayerMotter Photograph by Richard Sayer.