All the Pieces of Me
SO this particular picture was a self examination, and not of the doctors type(LOL). I have self confidence issues, with the way I look. Last weekend I did a shoot of a beautiful girl who had such self confidence issues it almost kept her from doing the pics. It occured to me as I was encouraging her and telling her that what she was “seeing” was not a reality , that I was a hypocrite of the worst kind. There are reasons I hide behind my camera, it’s safer there!!!
For all honesty sake. I am a 5”8” female, size 10, and 150 lbs.
Pre-babies was a different story. I am learning to love me and my body, just the way it is, imperfect, and real. SO HERE I AM.
Every flaw, and dimple of “real” curves are all my own.
Not to mention EARNED.
Posting this has caused me NO END of anxiety, but with a little encouragement from Vonne I am making the leap. So these are all the pieces of me. The good, the bad, and the flawed and the beautiful, to encourage those who are hiding to feel a little freedom.
Mark Peterson, about 1 month ago
I don’t see flaws…only the overlays hiding all that real beauty. Another very well done expressive piece Marny :)
Marny Barnes in reply to Mark Peterson’s comment, about 1 month ago
lol, people that I work with regularily visit here…don’t want them to drop over of a heart atack, wink.
Nick Milton, about 1 month ago
Id love to shoot you, your a women, all women are perfect,just different(than goodness)
your every bit a model,as you are an artist marny.
Marny Barnes in reply to Nick Milton’s comment, about 1 month ago
I am blushing. Thankies!!
karldenton, about 1 month ago
I’d have to agree with Mark and Nick…
But you know I do the same thing with models… and I never, ever like being photographed. As long as I have my camera in my hand I am the most confident human on earth…
Nice work, beautiful and full of courage.
Marny Barnes in reply to karldenton’s comment, about 1 month ago
thank-you so much for sharing your sincerity behind the comments!
Nick Milton, about 1 month ago
Me too, but then I AM bloody ugly.my motherinlaw thought i had no teeth for 3 months i was so shy,always had a hand,cup,bottle,sandwich,or mostly a camera in front of my “teeth” i have got teeth by the way. maybe photograper type people are very in secure?thats why we direct and hide and then display our work hoping not to be too destroyed by critiscm.(wish i could spell)and write like Jennifer B!
vonne, about 1 month ago
You are A Sexy and Beautiful Women! BRAVO!!! {{ Big Hugs! }}
Marny Barnes in reply to Nick Milton’s comment, about 1 month ago
I have discovered thru this photography thing that there is beauty in all of us, and a way to bring that out with a camera if you are good enough with that camera to do so, It’s what i love most at the end of the day is the way a person feels when I give them their pics and they feel handsome or beautiful!!
Marny Barnes in reply to vonne’s comment, about 1 month ago
ditto Yvonne!
Thanks for the encouragement!
vonne, about 1 month ago
Back at ya Babe!
Zaldy Infante, about 1 month ago
fascinating work.. great framing!!
Marny Barnes in reply to Zaldy Infante’s comment, about 1 month ago
Thank-you Zaldy!!!
Andy Gibb, about 1 month ago
photography wise it is a wonderful imotive inspirational work…emotion wise i love how you see yourself…great work
LittleHelen, about 1 month ago
You are beautiful Marny :D
I ♥ you
etta, about 1 month ago
I don’t see any flaws either. I do understand the anxiety though.
I think this is one of your best.
Marny Barnes in reply to etta’s comment, about 1 month ago
you are all so lovely in your comments!! thank-you etta!
Marny Barnes in reply to Andy Gibb’s comment, about 1 month ago
thank-you baby, and a kiss for that!!
Marny Barnes in reply to LittleHelen’s comment, about 1 month ago
I love you too my dear!!
kiss and a hug!!!!
Andy Gibb, about 1 month ago
youre very welcome…a hell of a talented lady
Marny Barnes in reply to etta’s comment, about 1 month ago
ps…I happen to know the ins and outs of posing for a camera, and which poses make your butt look smaller, this is one of them…wink
Nicole Ryan, about 1 month ago
I see nothing but a beautiful woman (truly) and an incredibly well present creative expression.
This is a fabulous picture xx
Lyra, about 1 month ago
i only see gorgeousness. wonderful image, Marny.
Marny Barnes in reply to Lyra’s comment, about 1 month ago
this has been a truely eye opening experiance. thank-you Lyra.
Marny Barnes in reply to Nicole Ryan’s comment, about 1 month ago
Nicole….your words touch me. Thank-you so very much. Hugz
mcquaid, about 1 month ago
Healthy in mind and spirit does not come with numbers.Look to any art book and you will find women, look at any fashion mag and you will see a distroted image of reality.My friend is a art director and the airbrush and edit on these so called beauties is astronomical.Great shot,Looking foward to seeing more(no pun intended)Regards.
Marny Barnes in reply to mcquaid’s comment, about 1 month ago
Thank-you Mcquaid!! I am glad you want to see more…no puns intended either…wink. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart for the words!
Krisso, about 1 month ago
Women are supposed to be curvy, thats what makes you all so beautiful. I can’t take your doubt away from you Marny but I can say you look perfect to me!
I would never critisize my own mother for the marks me or my siblings left on her body or the way we changed it so I would never judge or critisize anyone else for it. I think you should be proud of them.
And you should be proud of yourself for so bravely posting this image and telling us this about yourself because that takes alot of courage.
Krisso, about 1 month ago
P.S. This is a beautiful image by the way! :)
VanSnuG, about 1 month ago
Touche! How Profound. However, I STILL LOVE to Hide behind my Photographer Arms “S” Avatar. ;-) Marny, You are Beautiful and Talented. Hugs and Happy Mother’s Day.
Marny Barnes in reply to VanSnuG’s comment, about 1 month ago
Make the leap stephen, lol
show us your face!!
A sincere thanks for you comment!
Marny Barnes in reply to Krisso’s comment, about 1 month ago
Thank-you my freind!!
You are a good son, bringing up your mom with such care on mothers day,,,,hugz to you for the comment towards me and twice the hugz for being a good man towards your mama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tony Ryan, about 1 month ago
Actually love this image Marny and I think it is as much about the energy as it is the aesthetic. I think it is a beautifully framed and produced photo but also beleive that your emotional strength is very evident both in appearance and feel.
Personally I believe that we do have some control over our physical genetics. I believe if we truly embrace our inner emotional state that the understanding and freedom that arises can actually improve our physical appearances.
aglaia b, about 1 month ago
this is a truly beautiful self portrait.
i do agree with mark here in that if you take away the pretty overlay it would make this image stronger, more raw. I love the tight composition and how the black background just makes the warm skin tones pop out. the colour of you eye(s) looks so dreamy, i could get lost in there. excellent crop and yes your bum looks hot. i think most people are aware that when we see those models in the magazines, a retoucher has spent hours getting them to look gorgeous, even the most beautiful models have had copious amounts of retouching to them. this is a beautiful portrait of a beautiful woman flaws and all although i can’t see any, flaws that is.
well done! ;-) xo
Marny Barnes in reply to Tony Ryan’s comment, about 1 month ago
I definately agree. It’s about the energy you project as you walk down the street, that energy in itself is what draws people in. Like a moth to a bright light. Thanks for your words, both insightful and warm.
Marny Barnes in reply to aglaia b’s comment, about 1 month ago
I can tell you that the layers are a security blanket so to speak. I do beleive the camera can capture a moment and show a vulnerability of our souls. I wasn’t quite ready to be honest, to expose that completely. Your sincerity and truthful words are so appreciated here. ( and i think can be too few and far between on sites like this sometimes) the warmth from people has beeen wonderful. Thank-you again for your thoughts!
Jacqueline Baker, about 1 month ago
Marny just to say that all the pieces of you look great!
Marny Barnes in reply to Jacqueline Baker’s comment, about 1 month ago
a mother’s day hug to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Devon Mallison, about 1 month ago
happy mothers day you sexay thang!! :)
Marny Barnes in reply to Devon Mallison’s comment, about 1 month ago
happy momma’s day Dev, hope it’s been of the best kind to you!!!
Thanks for callin me a sexay thang..giggle.
JLHopgood, about 1 month ago
here here! I’m with you on every word Marny.
Marny Barnes in reply to JLHopgood’s comment, about 1 month ago
oooh myyy!!
I thank-you for the featured work, as this was a pic done thru extreme vulnerability it means so very much!!!
JLHopgood, about 1 month ago
You are more than welcome Marny. Not only is it a fantastic natural light portrait, the vulnerability comes through and that deserves admiration.
It’s hard to grow older and see our bodies change, especially after having children. I think it’s heightened in the photographic world as we see so many beautiful faces and bodies around us. It’s difficult to love ourselves for our curves and experience.
GINGER BARRITT, about 1 month ago
No flaws. I think Jo is right. You’re beautiful. Flaunt it.
butchart, about 1 month ago
this is a beauitful photo.. and i applaud your bravery… and honesty…. your inner light shines through so bright here….... and as it does it transforms this into a wonderful testament both to you and to women everywhere…....... bravo….........let it shine sister….....................b
Alateia, about 1 month ago
hey babe, here’s my 2 cents worth.
i used to freeze a crowd by walking in the room.
i was so shy of it and didnt understand the reactions of people affected by physical beauty. I found it insulting. It was like wearing gold in a poor country except i couldnt take it off.
Who said beauty is squandered on the youth?
It is my Autumn now and i feel and see my beauty fading fast now, i miss it. My physical beauty was my best friend that i used to amuse myself with from time to time. I miss my sleek tailored european designer suits and hand made snake skin shoes. It was fun, that was the most i made of it. I didnt want to trade with it as it was something special that was given to me by my family and i had to respect that.
we are in a culture that is dick worshipping where women are reduced to tits and arse for a few bucks at the same place the kids go to get the milk and bread. A tormentive social epidemic, my bro says, you have to be stronger than the world around you to stay intact.
A self portrait with a camera…............nothing hides, not even the shadows we create for ourselves.
Your eyes hide nothing Marny, your eyes alone render you completely naked. An ocean of emotion.
Body image in the marketplace, just another lucrative busniess, like comics were. It’s a man made construct that you don’t fit into, so please dont want to marny? that would be a tragedy. Leave that for the souless that percieve their physical as currency with an expiry date.
lol, you might want to delete this….i missed you and am getting back to my routine after the angels shoot last weekend. xxx the unmasked one babe.
Marny Barnes in reply to Alateia’s comment, about 1 month ago
Dear heart, the fact that you could stop a crowd does not surprise me, and as much as it might have had to do with your outer beauty I am going to pay cashola’s that it had a hell of alot to do with “how” you walked into that room. You strike me as a woman with presence. With an inner beauty as well as outer, and one plays off the other.
Just your dynamic alone drew me to you. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be in the same room with you.
AND HELL NO I am not deleting your comment I Loved it.
Thank-you for the words of warmth and truth.
Marny Barnes in reply to butchart’s comment, about 1 month ago
WOUld that be the shine off my butt in the next photo shoot??
WINK
I am so pale skinned….I have U.F.O. blue glow…
Lights up a room inthe dark…rofl.
I think I’ll wait a while before I get brave ….this one was tough enough!!!!!!!!
Marny Barnes in reply to GINGER BARRITT’s comment, about 1 month ago
Ginger…
thank-you so VERY much for the comment.
Gave me the warm fuzzies…
hugz
ltruskett, about 1 month ago
These are your baby steps, Marny….........u look great….........keep up the good work, you’re a natural.
Stephen Chapple, 10 days ago
Beautiful! This shows your soul….
“Within every man and woman a secret is hidden, and as a photographer it is my task to reveal it if I can.” Karsh of Ottawa)