Community Conversation => Transgender talk => Topic started by: E-Brennan on January 07, 2014, 04:23:55 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Mannish selfies?
Post by: E-Brennan on January 07, 2014, 04:23:55 PM
Post by: E-Brennan on January 07, 2014, 04:23:55 PM
Never thought I'd ever use the word "selfie", but that's what I spent this afternoon doing for an hour or two. I mean taking 'em, not saying the word, because that would be weird.
Is it just me being used to seeing a guy when I see photos of myself, even when made up, dressed up, and with a wig on (albeit a nasty $15 wig - gotta sort that out in 2014 and invest in something a little more realistic), or do other people have similar trouble seeing themselves in a different gender presentation initially? It's as if I'm seeing only male features, not the 90% female that is there. E.g. the tiniest bit of beard shadow (if it's even there and not just in my imagination) sticks out, and not the prettiest eye makeup I've ever applied, or the nice red lips. Or the long hair and scarf and dress.
I rarely dress as her, so seeing me as her (or me as I'm supposed to be) seems extremely weird at times.
Or...perhaps it's just because I look like a guy playing dress up? I'm certainly nowhere near posting a photo here and asking for opinions (this is still super secret), but out of the thirty or so photos I took, maybe one or two are actually ones I look at without being embarrassed for myself.
Is it just me being used to seeing a guy when I see photos of myself, even when made up, dressed up, and with a wig on (albeit a nasty $15 wig - gotta sort that out in 2014 and invest in something a little more realistic), or do other people have similar trouble seeing themselves in a different gender presentation initially? It's as if I'm seeing only male features, not the 90% female that is there. E.g. the tiniest bit of beard shadow (if it's even there and not just in my imagination) sticks out, and not the prettiest eye makeup I've ever applied, or the nice red lips. Or the long hair and scarf and dress.
I rarely dress as her, so seeing me as her (or me as I'm supposed to be) seems extremely weird at times.
Or...perhaps it's just because I look like a guy playing dress up? I'm certainly nowhere near posting a photo here and asking for opinions (this is still super secret), but out of the thirty or so photos I took, maybe one or two are actually ones I look at without being embarrassed for myself.
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: LJP on January 07, 2014, 05:31:50 PM
Post by: LJP on January 07, 2014, 05:31:50 PM
Quote from: Michele on January 07, 2014, 04:23:55 PM
Never thought I'd ever use the word "selfie", but that's what I spent this afternoon doing for an hour or two. I mean taking 'em, not saying the word, because that would be weird.
Is it just me being used to seeing a guy when I see photos of myself, even when made up, dressed up, and with a wig on (albeit a nasty $15 wig from Party City - gotta sort that out in 2014 and invest in something a little more realistic), or do other people have similar trouble seeing themselves in a different gender presentation initially? It's as if I'm seeing only male features, not the 90% female that is there. E.g. the tiniest bit of beard shadow (if it's even there and not just in my imagination) sticks out, and not the prettiest eye makeup I've ever applied, or the nice red lips. Or the long hair and scarf and dress.
I rarely dress as Michele - an hour in extreme private every couple of weeks if I'm lucky - so seeing me as her (or me as I'm supposed to be) seems extremely weird at times.
Or...perhaps it's just because I look like a guy playing dress up? I'm certainly nowhere near posting a photo here and asking for opinions (this is still super secret), but out of the thirty or so photos I took, maybe one or two are actually ones I look at without being embarrassed for myself.
You are not alone in that. I'm very new to this. I ordered some clothes and reality sunk in when I tried one. It won't all ways be like this :).
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: Carrie Liz on January 07, 2014, 05:59:59 PM
Post by: Carrie Liz on January 07, 2014, 05:59:59 PM
It happens, Michele. Give it time. That's the best that I can say.
My first attempts at passing were laughably bad now looking back at them, but I needed to do those in order to finally get to a place where I did feel happy with myself. Keep working at it. It will get better. Trust me.
My first attempts at passing were laughably bad now looking back at them, but I needed to do those in order to finally get to a place where I did feel happy with myself. Keep working at it. It will get better. Trust me.
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: Amy The Bookworm on January 08, 2014, 08:19:23 AM
Post by: Amy The Bookworm on January 08, 2014, 08:19:23 AM
Photography is difficult. Much more difficult than people give the art form credit for in the digital age, where everything is starting to come with a built in camera.
First: If you have 3 pictures you like? Ditch the rest. For every 20 pictures ... you should only keep 4 anyway. That way you KNOW those 4 are good because you've made the decision to get rid of 15 images you took just as much time to capture. Editing is part of photography.
Selfies themselves are very difficult to take and to actually make look good, which is why I stay away from them. First, if you're using a cell phone to take selfies, cell phones aren't decent cameras to begin with. They're cheep cameras that get the job done but that's about it. Lighting tends to be bad (Too dark of shadows too light brights), settings are often difficult to adjust (aperture shutter speed etc), resolutions are low, images are more pixilated as there are usually less pixels per image vs. a good camera, lenses tend to be cheaper and smaller and on and on and on and on.
On top of just the image quality, selfies taken with a cell phone tend to have the following problems: If you take a picture of yourself (especially with a cell phone) from closer than 6 feet and you're not using a zoom lens, there's probably going to be distortion. One of the big things that makes EVERYONE look more masculine in a portrait that's taken close up without the proper equipment is that they tend to have larger noses in the image than they actually do.
Lighting is also something to consider. There's a reason the term "5 oh clock shadow exists, and that's because where facial hair is, is also where shadows tend to form. Meaning, if your lighting's bad, your face can look flat, undetailed, washed out, or, yes, like anyone almost has facial hair.
If you have a film camera with a timer on it, try to find something (even if it's just a book case) to set it on and take several pictures that way. Even if you need to crop the picture, it'll be worth it compared to using a cell phone.
Some time I need to take a picture of something with my cell phone, then with my camera to fully illustrate the differences.
:P Unfortunately, when I have my cell phone in my hands I usually don't have my camera with me, because if I have my camera with me I won't touch my cell phone for any reason because I'm too busy taking pictures of ... everything to be able to answer it.
*EDIT!* OH! While I'm thinking about it: Try taking pictures without using your camera's flash (Cell phone or not). Flash photography tends to wash out an image. Pictures that use light, especially natural light like sun light tend to look a lot better.
OH! And light from a cloudy day can be GREAT for photography as it diffuses light, eliminating a lot of harsh light sources and causing lighting to look more even.
First: If you have 3 pictures you like? Ditch the rest. For every 20 pictures ... you should only keep 4 anyway. That way you KNOW those 4 are good because you've made the decision to get rid of 15 images you took just as much time to capture. Editing is part of photography.
Selfies themselves are very difficult to take and to actually make look good, which is why I stay away from them. First, if you're using a cell phone to take selfies, cell phones aren't decent cameras to begin with. They're cheep cameras that get the job done but that's about it. Lighting tends to be bad (Too dark of shadows too light brights), settings are often difficult to adjust (aperture shutter speed etc), resolutions are low, images are more pixilated as there are usually less pixels per image vs. a good camera, lenses tend to be cheaper and smaller and on and on and on and on.
On top of just the image quality, selfies taken with a cell phone tend to have the following problems: If you take a picture of yourself (especially with a cell phone) from closer than 6 feet and you're not using a zoom lens, there's probably going to be distortion. One of the big things that makes EVERYONE look more masculine in a portrait that's taken close up without the proper equipment is that they tend to have larger noses in the image than they actually do.
Lighting is also something to consider. There's a reason the term "5 oh clock shadow exists, and that's because where facial hair is, is also where shadows tend to form. Meaning, if your lighting's bad, your face can look flat, undetailed, washed out, or, yes, like anyone almost has facial hair.
If you have a film camera with a timer on it, try to find something (even if it's just a book case) to set it on and take several pictures that way. Even if you need to crop the picture, it'll be worth it compared to using a cell phone.
Some time I need to take a picture of something with my cell phone, then with my camera to fully illustrate the differences.
:P Unfortunately, when I have my cell phone in my hands I usually don't have my camera with me, because if I have my camera with me I won't touch my cell phone for any reason because I'm too busy taking pictures of ... everything to be able to answer it.
*EDIT!* OH! While I'm thinking about it: Try taking pictures without using your camera's flash (Cell phone or not). Flash photography tends to wash out an image. Pictures that use light, especially natural light like sun light tend to look a lot better.
OH! And light from a cloudy day can be GREAT for photography as it diffuses light, eliminating a lot of harsh light sources and causing lighting to look more even.
Title: Mannish selfies?
Post by: Emo on January 08, 2014, 09:45:54 AM
Post by: Emo on January 08, 2014, 09:45:54 AM
I find that i look feminine based on how i feel that day or time. As of now i see more feminine only because im seeing the potential of looking as such.
Sure i see the masculine features like, slightly protruding jaw line(tho mine is fairly rounded), thicker neck, and beard/mustache shadow.
I usually dont mind the neck too much, and i can shave, and my jaw line isnt too much of a problem, but when it all comes together, i sometimes see myself as a guy and sometimes as a girl.
I guess its a perception. You can be so used to thinking youre a guy that the feminine features are hidden by the masculine features that you see when youre judging yourself.
I dont know if this made any sense as i was thinking as i typed this so it may be a bit jumbled. Lol.
Sure i see the masculine features like, slightly protruding jaw line(tho mine is fairly rounded), thicker neck, and beard/mustache shadow.
I usually dont mind the neck too much, and i can shave, and my jaw line isnt too much of a problem, but when it all comes together, i sometimes see myself as a guy and sometimes as a girl.
I guess its a perception. You can be so used to thinking youre a guy that the feminine features are hidden by the masculine features that you see when youre judging yourself.
I dont know if this made any sense as i was thinking as i typed this so it may be a bit jumbled. Lol.
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: FalseHybridPrincess on January 08, 2014, 10:13:53 AM
Post by: FalseHybridPrincess on January 08, 2014, 10:13:53 AM
its totally wierd,,,I mean I take a pic and Im like wow nice pretty girl...and then I take another and Im like wow wtf with this wierd dude...
wtf...
wtf...
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: E-Brennan on January 08, 2014, 04:28:03 PM
Post by: E-Brennan on January 08, 2014, 04:28:03 PM
Amy, thanks so much for taking the time to write such a detailed and thoughtful response. My photography skills are pathetic and your advice will make my next time far more successful. (Now my worry is that since I should be able to take a slightly better photo, even more flaws will show up :(. I can't blame my general ugliness on the camera now.) But it makes me feel far better to hear that bad photos are a common problem, and that perhaps even my biggish nose might look smaller if the photos were taken from further away.
FalsePrincess, that's exactly how it seems. One moment, ok looking girl (I wouldn't call myself pretty), and the next moment, weird creepy dude wearing a cheap wig and his wife's clothes.
Quote from: FalsePrincess on January 08, 2014, 10:13:53 AM
its totally wierd,,,I mean I take a pic and Im like wow nice pretty girl...and then I take another and Im like wow wtf with this wierd dude...
FalsePrincess, that's exactly how it seems. One moment, ok looking girl (I wouldn't call myself pretty), and the next moment, weird creepy dude wearing a cheap wig and his wife's clothes.
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: LJP on January 08, 2014, 04:50:24 PM
Post by: LJP on January 08, 2014, 04:50:24 PM
Quote from: FalsePrincess on January 08, 2014, 10:13:53 AM
its totally wierd,,,I mean I take a pic and Im like wow nice pretty girl...and then I take another and Im like wow wtf with this wierd dude...
wtf...
Honestly everyone has a good and a bad side(some ppl have a great and a good side). I think cis women go thru the same thing except they don't have the added pressure of overcoming gender markers.
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: FalseHybridPrincess on January 08, 2014, 04:53:00 PM
Post by: FalseHybridPrincess on January 08, 2014, 04:53:00 PM
Quote from: Michele on January 08, 2014, 04:28:03 PM
FalsePrincess, that's exactly how it seems. One moment, ok looking girl (I wouldn't call myself pretty), and the next moment, weird creepy dude wearing a cheap wig and his wife's clothes.
And you know whats even more annoying...obviously you are either an ok looking girl or a wierd dude you cant be both...so which is it???
I cant tell and it bothers me a lot...what will others see ,the dude or the girl?
Do I look like a girl and I only think I look like a guy or do I look like a guy and I think I look like a girl...
give me a break already , come on hormones do your magic,,,god...
@LJP
I really dont know , its just as you can tell it bothers me a lot not knowing what I actually look like,,,
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: Emmaline on January 09, 2014, 07:40:26 AM
Post by: Emmaline on January 09, 2014, 07:40:26 AM
You have double distortion going on... the lens distortion, and then your mental distortion.
I hated dressing as a girl because I did it infront of the mirror. Big mistake. It just exaggerated my male aspects, and off on the dysphoria train I went. Try dressing as your true gender without a mirror for a while- let your mind enjoy its mental projection of how you SHOULD be, free from evidence to the contratry. It is very relaxing. I know that one day, in around seven or so months judging from others results, I will start to see enough changes I can look in the mirror. Till then though...
One good tip I got... tilt your chin down and camera higher, this reduces chin to cheek ratio- tailor this to match what you see in the mirror.
I hated dressing as a girl because I did it infront of the mirror. Big mistake. It just exaggerated my male aspects, and off on the dysphoria train I went. Try dressing as your true gender without a mirror for a while- let your mind enjoy its mental projection of how you SHOULD be, free from evidence to the contratry. It is very relaxing. I know that one day, in around seven or so months judging from others results, I will start to see enough changes I can look in the mirror. Till then though...
One good tip I got... tilt your chin down and camera higher, this reduces chin to cheek ratio- tailor this to match what you see in the mirror.
Title: Mannish selfies?
Post by: Emo on January 09, 2014, 08:22:13 AM
Post by: Emo on January 09, 2014, 08:22:13 AM
Quote from: Emmaline on January 09, 2014, 07:40:26 AMVery good tip.
One good tip I got... tilt your chin down and camera higher, this reduces chin to cheek ratio- tailor this to match what you see in the mirror.
I think the chin may be the most annoying tell on a transface.
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: Nicole on January 09, 2014, 06:53:49 PM
Post by: Nicole on January 09, 2014, 06:53:49 PM
Light!!!!
90% of photography is light and how we capture it.
90% of photography is light and how we capture it.
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: FalseHybridPrincess on January 09, 2014, 07:00:03 PM
Post by: FalseHybridPrincess on January 09, 2014, 07:00:03 PM
Then Im gonna need an assistant with my photos...
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TnR5C6gbAV8/URPltotam5I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/KG0QVdCwod8/s1600/Lux.jpg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TnR5C6gbAV8/URPltotam5I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/KG0QVdCwod8/s1600/Lux.jpg
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: Miss_Bungle1991 on January 09, 2014, 07:01:35 PM
Post by: Miss_Bungle1991 on January 09, 2014, 07:01:35 PM
Meh..I don't worry about that stuff these days. I look okay-ish.
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: KittyKat on January 09, 2014, 08:08:19 PM
Post by: KittyKat on January 09, 2014, 08:08:19 PM
I definitely see I guy when I take pictures, even though people tell me I look cute.
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: Emmaline on January 09, 2014, 08:17:08 PM
Post by: Emmaline on January 09, 2014, 08:17:08 PM
You do look cute- but your brain is filtering it.
Laura... I hate to tell you this but you look like a grey bear... and oh... wait it's a cartoon I get it.
Laura... I hate to tell you this but you look like a grey bear... and oh... wait it's a cartoon I get it.
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: Miss_Bungle1991 on January 10, 2014, 12:05:47 AM
Post by: Miss_Bungle1991 on January 10, 2014, 12:05:47 AM
Quote from: Emmaline on January 09, 2014, 08:17:08 PM
Laura... I hate to tell you this but you look like a grey bear... and oh... wait it's a cartoon I get it.
She's a porcupine.
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: Emmaline on January 10, 2014, 06:57:11 AM
Post by: Emmaline on January 10, 2014, 06:57:11 AM
Really? Huh.
:angel:
:angel:
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: Ltl89 on January 10, 2014, 09:47:09 AM
Post by: Ltl89 on January 10, 2014, 09:47:09 AM
Yeah, I have a hard time capturing a clear view of what things really look like. Whenever I take photos, I feel like my image is different from what I see in the mirror. personally, I feel I look more feminine in person than I do in pictures, but it's only a slight deviation if anything. Most of my "selfies" are done on my phone, so that may be why the quality isn't that great.
Title: Re: Mannish selfies?
Post by: Emmaline on January 10, 2014, 02:37:00 PM
Post by: Emmaline on January 10, 2014, 02:37:00 PM
The time I look most femme is in candid photos... In posed shots I guess I stiffen up and it makes me look more Masculine. Maybe it is the same for you?