The Shape of Memory (Self-portrait in photography)
The Shape of Memory
I’m not just chasing light and shadow, but I’m drawn to what lives between them. The quiet stillness. The way a space seems to hold its breath. That moment just before a memory returns.
It’s in those in-between places that something honest and unexpected reveals itself. I frame spaces not just as they look, but as they feel.
The almosts. The held breaths. The pauses that speak louder than movement.
Sometimes, I step into the frame, not to be seen, but to remind myself that I’m part of the story too.
Photography has taught me to slow down, notice, and find meaning in the moments others might pass by.
In those still, quiet scenes, I find pieces of myself.
Not posed. Just present.
Self-portrait in photography
For me, self-portrait photography is a way to step into the scene, not to be seen, but to belong to the moment. It’s how I create my own memory, by becoming part of the space rather than just observing it. I’m not the subject, but a quiet presence within the story.
Within my fine art photography practice, self-portraits offer a more personal lens. They show where I stand in the work, emotionally and physically. This part of contemporary photography lets me reflect and reveal at the same time.
These portraits also show the process behind the art. They capture how presence, place, and emotion come together in a single frame. Not posed, just present. A visual reminder of what it feels like to create from within.
Hi there, I'm Stefanie, the photographer, and author of the blog post you're reading.
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A spontaneous photo series captured on my phone during a quiet return to my hometown in the Harz Mountains, exploring how presence—more than equipment—shapes meaningful art.