Complete A Self Portrait Series: Fun, Awesome and Unexpected - Fine Art Photographer

Faceless Self Portrait Series: Fun, Awesome and Unexpected

Doing a Self Portrait, especially a Faceless Self Portrait, is a great way to get your creative juices flowing. So for the month of February I am challenging myself by doing a daily faceless self portrait. That is 28 days of fun, awesome and unexpected self portraits. During February I will use different techniques in order to come up with my style.

My Goals For Faceless Self Portrait Self Imposed Challenge

Improve my photography and digital photo art
Challenge myself creatively
See the beauty in the ordinary
Try different techniques
Get out of my comfort zone
Take at least one photo daily,
process photo in Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop,
upload photo to social media (instagram and facebook) to share with others.
learn camera inside/out
setting my white balance
getting comfortable with using high ISO
more knowledgeable with Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop

February Faceless Self Portraits Begins

Week 1 of Faceless Self Portraits

02-01-2025 First time Gramma Faceless Self Portrait

Started my faceless self portrait series by taking a photo with my 3 week old grandson. I really love this photo showing the contrast between his dark head of hair against my silver hair.

Lens AF-S Nikkor 85mm 1:1.8G
ISO 1000
focal 85mm
f/2.8
1/60 sec
White Balance 5250

02-02-2025 Domestically Challenge

This was definitely fun and challenging to pull off. I almost got stuck in the washer. Only tried this a few times since it was so awkward to do. It came out like I envisioned it.

Lens Tokina Opera 18-28mm f/2.8 FF
ISO 2000
focal 28mm
f/5.0
1/125 sec
White Balance 4000

02-03-2025 Here You Go

Used the bathroom mirror for this piece. Took first shot of me reaching for something. Second shot is of me handing an orange to my reflection. Edited Lightroom and Photoshop.

Lens Tokina Opera 18-28mm f/2.8 FF
ISO 2000
focal 20mm
f/5.0
1/125 sec
White Balance 4000

02-04-2025 Working The Core Faceless Self Portrait

Not as creative as the one I did yesterday but it is a faceless self portrait and that is the goal of this month.

Lens AF-S Nikkor 85mm 1:1.8G
ISO 100
focal 85mm
f/1.8
1/1000 sec
White Balance 6150

02-05-2025 Light Reading

Besides taking photos and creating digital photo art I love to read. It used to be just romance novels but now I read more fantasy books. The book in this photo is an old one of my husbands about the History of The War for The Union. I love the textures of the book and thought it would make a good photo.

Lens AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1:1.4G
ISO400
focal 50mm
f/1.4
1/250 sec
White Balance 4571

02-06-2025 Shadow while on photo/dog walk

While on my 4.5 mile photo/dog walk I caught my shadow with my Dogo Dane, Mabel and thought it would make for an interesting faceless self portrait.

Lens AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm 1:3.5-5.6G ED DX
ISO 640
focal 18mm
f/3.5
1/250 sec
White Balance 5314

02-07-2025 Hiking

When I am not taking photos, creating digital art or reading I like to go hiking. Went to a local park and found a nice shady area to take my self portrait.

Lens AF-S Nikkor 85mm 1:1.8G
ISO 640
focal 200mm
f/2.5
1/500sec
White Balance 6500

02-08-2025 Competing With Myself

This was fun to put together. Shot three photos. One of me closest to the camera, the other of me on the other end of the ping pong table and the one of the ball bouncing. Combined them all in photoshop.

Lens Tokina Opera 16-28mm f/2.8 FF
ISO 3200
focal 22mm
f/3.5
1/800 sec
White Balance 5100

Week 2 of Faceless Self Portrait

02-09-2025 Multi-Tasking 3 faceless self portraits

Enjoyed doing “Competing With Myself” that I decided to do another one with three of me titled, Mult-Tasking. First photo is of me standing in front of the stove. Left hand is holding on coffee pot waiting for a re-fill while the right hand is waiting to be handed spice. Second photo is of me messing with the plants while at the same time pouring my other self some coffee. The final photo is of me standing on stool grabbing spice and handing it to my other self.

Lens Tokina Opera 16-28mm f/2.8 FF
ISO 1000
focal 28mm
f/3.5
1/100 sec
White Balance 3800

02-10-2025 Head In The Clouds

First attempt at this. Definitely plan on trying this again. The clouds I shot last month. My selfie I shot in the morning on this day. Used my expo disc to help with white balance. Combined both images in photoshop. When I was young adults would say that my head was always in the clouds. I was and still am a big day dreamer.

Lens AF-S 85mm 1:1.8G
ISO 250
focal 85mm
f/3.5
1/320 sec
White Balance 8100

02-11-2025 Hello? Anybody There?

Wasn’t sure I could pull this off. This was shot during the day and then processed in photoshop to look like night. Added the light to the lantern post-processing. Set the camera at the top of the stairs and focused on the post at the bottom.

Lens AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4G
ISO 250
focal 50mm
f/4.0
1/80sec
White Balance 3800

02-12-2025 Mirror Reflections

Well this was very frustrating. Not the outcome I wanted or envisioned. I will try this again sometime. Found my mirror reflection inspiration on blog post “How to Capture Faceless Portraits”. The background was boring so I replaced it with one of my cloud photos.

Lens AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4G
ISO 6400
focal 50mm
f/16
1/100 sec
White Balance 3800

02-13-2025 The Painter

This is a hobby I would like to pick up this year. This is a painting I did on a cruise in 2024 at one of their painting classes. It was a lot of fun. I took painting classes in high school and now wish I had continued it. Took the photo of painting and then enlarged it in post-processing. Then took a photo of myself against a white background. Combined both photos in photoshop to make it look like I was painting on my wall.

Lens AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4G
ISO 2500
focal 50mm
f/7.1
1/160sec
White Balance 4800

02-14-2025 Flower Fairy Walking In The Moonlight

Put on my long dress I wore to my daughters wedding a few years ago because it is flowy. Took this in my closet against a white all. The image with the meadow of flowers is a photo I took in Montona. Added the wings, moon and sparkles in post processing.

Lens Tokina Opera 18-28mm f/2.8 FF
ISO 2500
focal 28mm
f/4.0
1/1600sec
White Balance 4800

02-15-2025 The Thinker

This image was also shot in my closet against a white wall. The clouds are from my collections of clouds I have been taking over the past few months. Built the rocks from images in my arsenal..

Lens Tokina Opera 18-28mm f/2.8 FF
ISO 2500
focal 28mm
f/4.0
1/1600sec
White Balance 4800

Week 3 of Faceless Self Portrait

02-16-2025 Double Reflections

Went to an antique fair this day. Saw my reflections in the weather vane. Took the opportunity to take a photo just in case I didn’t get the opportunity to get my faceless self portrait later. So glad I took this shot because I did not have time to do a different one.

Lens AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm 1:3.5-5.6G ED DX
ISO 100
focal 135mm
f/5.6
1/320sec
White Balance 5500

02-17-2025 Girl and her Horse

Funny thing about this piece I have never owned a horse. Horses scare me because of their size. I have been on horses before but they are very docile. The photo of horse I took years ago. The fence is AI generated. Took the photo of me looking like I am petting the horse over the fence.

Lens AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4G
ISO 320
focal 50mm
f/5.6
1/100sec
White Balance 8100

02-18-2025 Oh, The Places I Will Go

Traveling to National Parks are wonderful. Each is different, unique and beautiful. The background image is one I took in 2021 while on vacation to one of Utah’s National Parks. The image with me and the umbrella was taken in my backyard jumping off a stool. My neighbors must think me weird. Also, didn’t take too many of me jumping off stool because it was causing me a headache from jumping.

Lens AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm 1:3.5-5.6G ED DX
ISO 2000
focal 32mm
f/5.6
1/2000 sec
White Balance 6000

02-19-2025 Up, Up and Away

All photos in this piece are ones I have taken except for the balloons. I purchased those from CreativeMarket. The background is an image I took while on a cruise last year. The photo of myself and basket I took on my back porch. Did my best to make it look like I am riding in the basket. Combined all images in photoshop.

Lens AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm 1:3.5-5.6G ED DX
ISO 500
focal 55mm
f/5.6
1/160sec
White Balance 5950

02-20-2025 As Clean As A Timepiece

Sitting on couch trying to figure out what I was going to do for my faceless self portrait. Eyed the antique clock sitting on mantle. Then the idea was born to create a piece showing me cleaning the clock as a miniature. So much fun putting this together.

Lens AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm 1:3.5-5.6G ED DX
ISO3200
focal 31mm
f/5.6
1/30sec
White Balance 4050

02-21-2025 Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, See No Evil

This is an idea I had for a while. So simple but impactful since I converted it to black and white with all negative space at top.

Lens AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4G
ISO 3200
focal 50mm
f/4.0
1/125sec
White Balance 4250

02-22-2025 Night Light

The vision I had in my head was better than what I came up with. But since I was running of time I just went with this one. Made it look like it was night time in post processing. The tiffany lamp shade was heavy and awkward.

Lens Tokina Opera 18-28mm f/2.8 FF
ISO 3200
focal 28mm
f/4.0
1/3200sec
White Balance 3700

Last Week Of February Faceless Self Portrait series

02-23-2025 Weight Of The World

Thought it would be fun to create a piece based on the quote “Weight Of The World”. The world is AI generated. The clouds are from my cloud collection along with the rocks. I took the photo of me crouching over simulating carrying the world on my shoulders. Combined all images in photoshop.

Lens AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4G
ISO 200
focal 50mm
f/3.5
1/200sec
White Balance 5700

02-24-2025 Fortune Teller

In order to create this piece I had to take two photos. I set the glass ball on table. Focused on the couch in glass ball then sat on couch for photo. Then I took another photo of me right behind the glass ball. Combined images in photoshop.

Lens AF-S 85mm 1:1.8G
ISO 1600
focal 85mm
f/2.8
1/100 sec
White Balance 6000

02-25-2025 Butter Churning

My father gave me this old butter churn. Not sure if it belong to my great grandmother or not. Thought it would make for a great prop for this piece. Took photo of churn on picnic table. Then took photo of me on picnic table acting like I am turning the handle on butter churn. Combined the images in photoshop. I was going for a vintage, grungy feel..

Lens Tokina Opera 18-28mm f/2.8 FF
ISO 800
focal 28mm
f/5.0
1/2600sec
White Balance 8000

02-26-2025 M&Ms Anyone?

Peanut M&Ms are my achilles heal. Every time I walk by the candy bowl I have to eat some. That is when I thought it would make for a great piece. Took three photos. One of the two M&Ms. The other of the bowl of M&Ms and then one of me hold my had up acting like I am giving someone some M&Ms. Combined all images in Photoshop.

Two M&Ms

Lens AF-S Nikkor 50mm 1:1.4G
ISO 3200
focal 50mm
f/7.1
1/500sec
White Balance 5600

Bowl of M&Ms

Lens Tokina Opera 18-28mm f/2.8 FF
ISO 3200
focal 28mm
f/3.2
1/640sec
White Balance 5600

Hand

Lens Tokina Opera 18-28mm f/2.8 FF
ISO 3200
focal 17mm
f/14
1/100sec
White Balance 5600

02-27-2025 Propagating

Doing a piece depicting me in a bottle or light bulb has always been on my mind. Took two photos. One with the propagating jars and the other of me. Then combined all image in photoshop following Joel Robison’s technique.

Propagating Jars

Lens AF-S 85mm 1:1.8G
ISO 200
f/2.0
1/320 sec
White Balance 6400

Lens Tokina Opera 18-28mm f/2.8 FF
ISO 200
focal 28mm
f/2.8
1/100sec
White Balance 5850

02-28-2025 Lighting The Lantern

Doing these pieces where I am small is so much fun. I am sure you can tell by now I like antiques. Have a few hanging around the house. This is a railroad lantern I believe. Thought it would make an interesting prop. Took 3 photos. One of just the lantern. Second of me lighting the lantern. Thirdly, me acting like I am holding a match lighting the lantern.

Lantern and lit match

Lens AF-S Nikkor 85mm 1:1.8G
ISO 200
focal 85mm
f/2.0
1/250 sec
White Balance 4759

Lens Tokina Opera 18-28mm f/2.8 FF
ISO 320
focal 17mm
f/2.8
1/200sec
White Balance 5250

Faceless Self Portraits Visual Diary for February has come to a close

The month of February went by even faster than January. This month was challenging but I am happy to report that I successfully completed. During the last few days I purchased the course “Fantastic Photo Adventures” by Joel Robison through Expert Photography. So glad I bought this course. Joel Robinson’s editing style is the style I strive to achieve. My last two self portraits were done after I watched three of his videos. I am very happy with the result. So looking forward to continuing my photo a day in March. Below is a compilation of “Faceless Self Portrait Series” for February.

Below is a list of my previous self portrait projects. I have definitely come a long way:

Creative Selfie 59 to 60 Project – Fine Art Photographer | Digital Artist 2022
Creative Selfies ~ Using Photo Editing Apps and Photoshop CC using only IPhone and IPhone apps 2018
BecTPhotography: Project50 May 2011 – May 2012 Monthly self-portrait from the day I turned 49 to the day I turned 50. This blog was created on blogspot.

For my photo a day in March I am challenging myself by only using one prime lens. My choice of lens is the Lensbaby Optic Sweet 35. This should be fun and challenging because it is full manual mode. Not an easy lens to use.. Hope you enjoy this journey and are inspired to do your own Photo challenges. Enjoy!