Photo Friday : Best of 2003

For over 13 years, one of my favorite ways to take a self-portrait or group photo is to encourage folks to stand close next to me, extend my camera in front of me, and snap.

For my senior art exhibition to graduate with my bachelor's, I did a series of non-objective color paintings that explored the reaches of my physical space. I am 5 feet and 3/4 of an inch tall. With a paint brush in hand, I can comfortably reach 6 feet in diameter. All the paintings in the series were 6 by 6 feet - the edge of my reach.

All of my series of "end of my reach" photos are usually funny to unflattering, as the farthest I can reach and shoot the picture with the average point and shoot film camera is just in or just out of focus range. With my arm out and trying to get others in the picture, I usually pull my chin back and get a nose in focus and other parts out of focus.

Most of all, I love the random compositions that result from trying to get multiple people into a picture that I can't see before it is shot. With my trusty Sony Mavica digital camera, I am able to get fairly focused photos within in the range of my short arm, but I still like to make a face or two.

The above photo of Erica from Costa Mesa, myself, and Rusty Sanchez from last Saturday night is one of my favorites for the year.