September Mirror, Mirror Challenge

...I thought you might like this. I took it at a little town in western Kentucky called Sebree.  It was like going back in time.  The bank was built in 1890 and is still in use.  As I took a picture of it, a little old lady came over and locked the door at 11:00 in the morning.  She thought "I was casing the joint"  I guess.  Too Funny!! -- Billy H.

January Mirror, Mirror Submision from Billy

"Hey Virginia, here is my entry for January. I was sitting in the rain waiting to pick up a horse. I happened to see the rear view mirror and thought about you -- Wallah!!! I like the glasses. They cover up bags and crow's feet. It was 36 degrees, should have been snow!!!" Billy

January Out and About Submission from Marsanne

"My post for today for the Creative Everyday Challenge. See me peeking through this cool mirror that we found at the Dollar Store? Only $10 bucks! I should have gotten it, but really, what would I use it for? It's not like I can really see myself in it...I try not to do too many pics with myself in them; I am much happier behind the camera. Plus, my mom looks at me all crazy when I take pictures of things in stores. :)" -- Marsanne

Mirror, Mirror Challenge January 2010

Hello Everyone! Took a break in December, but now I'm back to self-exploring through the Mirror, Mirror Challenge. I've already received one submission and I'm looking forward to seeing what you're going to send me this month.

Here's a quote to get you thinking, from Richard Bach (Mr. Jonathan Living Seagull himself):
"Look in a mirror and one thing's sure; what we see is not who we are."

Who are we really? Surely we are not just the skin and bones and hair that we see reflected back to us. I look at myself now in the mirror and there seems such a discrepancy between who I see there and what I feel like inside. I look at a 50+ year old and I feel 25, 35, 45 years younger -- sometimes even 25 years older! It is a big puzzle. A big frustrating puzzle. So, what am I to believe? Do I look at my mirror's image and believe I am over the hill and start to act that way? Or do I look at that image and think yes, there are lines, but maybe they are not real, maybe they are not the whole picture. I like living in the question that perhaps not everything I see is real, and is influenced by limitations of my own perceptions.

I invite you to ponder this as you take your picture this month. What does that photo tell you about yourself? What about yourself does the photo reveal? What does it not? Don't think about it too much, but see what comes out of it for you. And comment on other people's photos when you have chance. Let them know what you see.

Remember you can submit more than one photo over the month. There are several categories, all described in the side column, and I am always open to suggestions for new ones:
1. Who Am I This Month?
2. Wild Card
3. Out and About
4. Others, Mirror, Self (You don't have to be in this photo, just need to have taken it.)

Others, Mirror, Self : New Mirror, Mirror Category

In light of the photo that Billy submitted of his granddaughter and one I just received from Robert P., I am announcing a new Mirror, Mirror category: Others, Mirrors, Self.

As photographers, amateur or professional, every photograph we take reveals something of our self. It reflects something we are interested in, something we might desire, something that gives us pleasure, something that reveals a deep feeling about ourselves.

So in this category, Others, Mirror, Self (thank you Robert for the name) you can submit a picture of someone else mirrored in a reflective surface. You do not have to be in the frame, but you need to have taken the picture. And most important, I would like you to share what this picture or this person reflects to you about your self.

I look forward to seeing your submissions!

P.S. You can use recent or past photos in any of the Mirror, Mirror categories.

Wild Card Mirror Mirror Submission: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I Am All Bones But I Have a Heart
Originally uploaded by beautiful my mane

"I Am All Bones But I Have a Heart"
Taken at the Reflections Exhibit at the Exploratorium in San Francisco. I am taking a photo of myself reflected back in a mirror -- you had your choice of bones, organs, or nervous system overlay. A unique way of seeing your reflection. Photos I took at this exhibit will be available to view on Flickr.