The first effort is my 'idealized' self. The lighting was just so, I was originally posed by a pro, and then the photo taken by that pro. I took that result, edited out a few of my 'flaws', to complete the idealized view. The later effort is just as I saw in the mirror, looking up at it, between looking down at my paper.

The first began with linear emphasis, then colored. The second began with only considerations of light and dark patterns, having a strong, singular light source, and any linear aspects incidental.

Which is better, the ideal or the real? Or are they both aspects of myself?

I did a more recent self portrait June 9, 2006: