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Narcissism
1st PlaceNarcissism
gyaban


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Obsession (Expert Editing)
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X
Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
Date: Feb 21, 2016
Date Uploaded: Feb 21, 2016

When I was a kid, I was extremely shy. I remember that the simple sound of the ringing phone was enough to make me run in another room: I was terrified by the idea of speaking to someone. Similarly, buying some candies at the grocery was a great challenge, since it involved talking to the shopkeeper. Of course, this became even more of a problem when I started to go to school, since avoiding everyone else was not an option anymore.

I am not sure where this fear of others came from. Retrospectively, I suppose that I was seriously lacking in the self-confidence department. For some reason, I wasn't very fond of myself: I was convinced that my body was awkward, that my movements were unnatural, that my thoughts were unusual. As a result, I spent years being jealous of the popular kids, secretly looking at them with envy, wondering what I could do to become like them. Slowly, I understood that I first had to believe more in my own potential.

However, while some amount of self-confidence seems suitable, when does it become narcissism? What is the point to constantly feel superior, to constantly love yourself, without any objectivity? It is probably a great way to never improve nor evolve. If one turns the TV on, or reads some news, it is easy to spot dozen of self-proclaimed celebrities, who keep staring at their own belly, certain that they are so interesting for the rest of the world. Even when looking around you, I am sure you can think of someone acting a bit like that, living only for recognition. It is a bit sad really, but I suppose it is directly resulting of how our capitalistic society works. Individual performance is often praised. I hope this trap won't get Humanity stuck in a vicious circle.

Finally, I would like to thank my stepmother for her help: we were chatting about this topic and how to depict it, when she told me about multiple mirrors and infinite reflections. This greatly helped me come up with this concept.

Thanks a lot for watching and for the kind feedback, much appreciated!

Statistics
Place: 1 out of 48
Avg (all users): 7.4688
Avg (commenters): 9.1250
Avg (participants): 7.0400
Avg (non-participants): 7.7436
Views since voting: 2307
Views during voting: 204
Votes: 64
Comments: 18
Favorites: 2 (view)


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AuthorThread
03/03/2016 01:02:09 PM
P.S. I see your behiney.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
03/03/2016 01:01:33 PM
Totally astounding. Mind blowing creation, Christophe!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
03/01/2016 10:14:40 PM
Whoot!! Now I can say congrats! Haunting, creepy image with a lot to say. I think the main problem is most people seeking praise because they don't love themselves. So we seek it constantly from others. Or probably -- the biggest problem is we think too much of ourselves: whether we loathe ourselves or love ourselves, really, it shouldn't be about us. Should it?
  Photographer found comment helpful.
03/01/2016 04:34:27 PM
Originally posted by vawendy:

Noooo!!!! two challenges with no notes?? I'm going through withdrawal here....

Holding off on the congrats until we get our photographer notes. :)


I am pretty sure I actually wrote them during the challenge... must be getting old! Anyway, here are those notes again. Thanks for your comment :)
03/01/2016 04:06:17 PM
Noooo!!!! two challenges with no notes?? I'm going through withdrawal here....

Holding off on the congrats until we get our photographer notes. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
03/01/2016 10:37:05 AM
Superb work Christophe as always. You have a very vivid imagination.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/29/2016 01:08:38 PM
Absolutely excellent. Congrats Christophe, you never cease to to amaze me.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/29/2016 01:05:21 AM
Congrats on the blue, his is very good. Nice to see more 10 votes than any other number.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/29/2016 12:13:20 AM
Congratulations Gyaban....glad to be with you on the front page. :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
02/28/2016 11:59:08 PM
Clever. Top 3.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/28/2016 09:06:21 PM
I have my suspicions who is this hairless wonder.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/28/2016 05:08:28 PM
Fascinating.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/27/2016 08:55:01 AM
Just wow -
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/26/2016 08:26:46 AM
Superb, as always!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/25/2016 09:19:26 AM
Wow I gave you an 8.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/23/2016 10:54:14 PM
Top 3 for me. Absolutely beautiful. We can see a very studied work I give 10
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/23/2016 07:20:01 PM
I am no Narcissist but I can relate to this:-) This is one of my top picks and it should do well. I gave it a 10, very cleaver and creative.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
02/22/2016 07:44:29 AM
Brilliant as always! Grats on the blue :-)
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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