BLACK, a self-portrait

And now, I present my final self-portrait in my colors series, BLACK.

Black swallows you whole. It conceals and also accentuates edges. Black is essential and dutiful. It is both utilitarian and beautiful.

I feel similarly about BLACK as I do about BROWN. As the color series progressed, it seemed that the two of them had to pair well together out of necessity. Therefore, as with brown, I waited for a similar time of day and location in which to photograph. I had to wait, however, for the peak of winter instead of the last vestiges of fall. Everything needed to be as dead as possible. It could be as though I am grieving.

I photographed myself relatively far from the camera as well. Black can symbolically distance a person from the group, from one’s friends. You can vanish in it, while at the same time sticking out like a sore thumb if you’re the only one wearing it in a crowd.

I am relieved and excited that this series is complete, but as with many projects, there are always loose threads. I keep going over and over in my mind what I could have done differently, what will come next. I can see where the series is most weak, and where it is most strong. Perhaps it was an exercise in frivolity and self-indulgence, but at least it got me photographing!