It's a peculiarly schizophrenic experience, being your own model, playing two totally different roles at once and switching back and forth between them in rapid succession. You play around with framing and focus, lights and exposures. Then you set off the self-timer, run into the picture and jump straight into your model role. You hold very, very still, trying to picture how it will look through the lens you can no longer see through, and you try not to sneeze or fall over or suddenly change your mind about where your knees and elbows should be.

This was an attempt to capture the feeling I have about it. It was probably the most uncomfortable shoot I have ever put myself through - including the one where I tied myself up in pink wool and hopped to the camera and back. And in the end, I didn't manage this with the self-timer (everything is so difficult with your arms snapped off). Many thanks to Jimmy for his assistance.

Related tags:

statue, posing, self-timer, stillness, standing still, seemingly armless, photographer as model, unseen hands, feeling the frame, own work of art

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