Impact

MAGNIFICENT SELFIES WITH SOUL NOW

Selfies are a celebration of the Beautiful Self. Whether they are merely snapshots, capturing the look-at-me-now moments in life, or they are more carefully considered and composed, they are windows into our souls. They tell so much about who we are, by showing where we are and how we are reacting to what is around us.

Today, we are featuring two photographers who have seriously considered their backgrounds and poses. They are soulful self portraits of both person and place.

ANTTI PIETIKÄINEN

There are a few rare, exceptionally beautiful places where you can find yourself completely by yourself, as if you are the only one on the planet. Some are way up in the Arctic Circle.

Native Laplander and Aurora Zone photographer Antti Pietikäinen creates spectacular self-portraits set against the soul-moving backdrop of the frozen landscape under the dazzle of the Aurora Borealis.

Pietikäinen’s shots are trickier than they look. It’s not so easy to light himself against the other elements. Positioning his cameras is key. And his lighting scheme is a closely guarded secret.

NASA has recently confirmed that the Sun reached the peak of its Solar Cycle (otherwise known as Solar Maximum) in June 2014. Because the Sun is at its most active at this time, the Aurora Borealis appears with even great frequency and grandeur. The NOAA/NASA Solar Cycle Prediction Panel points out that major solar events are more likely to occur when a Solar Cycle begins to decline.

Because most photographers shoot the Northern Lights by setting a tripod-mounted camera to automatically shoot, the situation is ripe for selfies. You can prop up a camera, set it to automatic, and go pose for your shot.

If you think taking selfies with an aurora behind sounds exciting, you can arrange an amazing soulful trip with Aurora Zone. In fact, Pietikäinen just might be your guide. And these selfies just might be the best and most beautiful selfies you will ever take.

ALEX STODDARD

Photographer Alex Stoddard has a very deep connection with himself. Deeper than most people his age. It is apparent in his magical self-portraits.

At 17, photographer Alex Stoddard set off on a 365 Project in which he took a new photo of himself every day for one year.

With each sequential photo, it is remarkable to see Stoddard’s growth, both as a human being, still moving through his adolescence, and as a photographer.

Sometimes Stoddard planned his photos in advance, organizing props, settings, and lighting. Some days, he winged it. None of his images are processed in the same way as each other. Processing is based entirely upon the unique attributes of the photograph.

Stoddard’s photos are full of soul and and are steeped in self-awareness. He grew up in Georgia and began taking self-portraits at the age of sixteen in the woods behind his home in Georgia. He developed them into photo-illustrations of dark and fantastical tales that “capture the drama and fragility of the human experience.”

Stoddard was named as one of Flickr’s 20 Under 20, a top honor among photography circles. Now, at age 20, he already has an impressive career to look back on. His photos of Beautiful Self hang next to those of Annie Leibovitz, Richard Avedon, and Peter Lindbergh at one of the most renowned galleries in the USA.

Check out Alex Stoddard’s flickr here, and again make sure to click through the photos above to see more examples of his work. He is represented by Fahey Klein Gallery.

Enter your own images and ideas about Beautiful Self in this week’s creative Photo Competition. Open for entries now until 11:59 p.m. PT on 01.25.2014. If you are reading this after that date, check out the current BN Creative Competition, and enter!