367-50 Week 34

It's been a strange week in many respects for me, and I've found myself doing some things I would never have imagined doing. None of which are going into the blog this week, because it's beard removal week here on 2nd Shooter. People have commented in the past about how they think that my beard or lack of it reflects my mood. I think I can say that this is the first time I've grown a beard and then shaved it off for purely photographic purposes. So, here's the plan. Having spent a month growing a full beard, I'm going to shave some off each day until I'm clean shaven by the time that Sunday rolls around. In other words, seven self-portraits all taken and processed identically. This is either going to be spectacular, or incredibly dull.

2/07/12

So we start with the full beard. The Rolf Harris, or The Gerry Adams depending on your point of view. This had to go, mainly because the sides start itching like mad when it gets to a certain length and shocking amount of grey (who an I kidding -white) on my chin makes me look and feel like I'm in my 90's.

3/07/12

I have to say that I'd never tried this look before, probably with good reason. Tuesday's facial hair was a challenge to wear all day, and my youngest daughter was quick to point out that I looked like Wolverine. Which I took as a compliment, until she explained that it wasn't. I did discover, however, that this looks really good with my buff/bandana on. Very redneck.

4/07/12

This is me in my natural bearded state. I've had this goatee for a couple of years now, and have worn it on and off over the last god-knows how many years. Maybe a bit bushier than normal, but that's what will probably be growing back once this project ends.

5/07/12

The Buffalo Bill look was something I kinda enjoyed, and it was fun sporting it to my ex-partner's graduation at Queens. As noted above, that was something I'd never envisaged happening, but it all worked out quite pleasantly and my youngest seems to have enjoyed the day, which was why I did it in the first place. I kinda like this look, strangely enough and kept it for as long as possible before shaving and heading towards my least favourite look of all, the moustache.

6/07/12

You didn't realise that there was another Chuckle Brother? I really don't go for the solitary 'tache at all. It reminds me of police officers or something. I was a little embarrassed to go out of the house like this but stuck it out. Avoided public places and didn't go anywhere were people might have recognised me though.

7/07/12

This was rather fun. My attempt at a Clark Gable moustache ended up making me look like a 1940's/1950's wide boy - George Cole in the original St Trinian's movies perhaps. I did try to throw in a "dodgy geezer" expression for this one - it seemed appropriate.

8/07/12

And here's a picture of my da. I'm not sure how I feel about looking in the mirror and seeing my dad looking back every morning. On the plus side, it makes me look a few years younger (I know I'm deluding myself there, but hey) and requires much less maintenance that any sort of facial hair. Bare face for a little while, I think and then welcome back goatee beard.


Technical details? Usual Nikon D90 with a Nikkor 60 mm f2.8 lens. ISO 200, shutter speed 200 and f 5.6. One flash above and left on half power, one below and right on one quarter power. Both flashes at 45 degrees to the subject and shooting though umbrellas. Post processed in Lightroom4 using a black and white/yellow filter and given a dark vignette.