The blog of photographer Kim Ayres

Blog Photo

I’ve decided to change my blog photo, which should be no big deal as people are doing it all the time, but the image we chose to present to the world says quite a bit about how we see ourselves. Many bloggers have no image at all, prefering to remain completely anonymous, while others chose symbols, cartoons, animals or even landscapes.

Unlike the majority of bloggers, I've never shied away from revealing my true identity. People can accept me for who I am, or not. At least this way I don't have to worry about people only liking the front I project, while living in fear that they might not like me if they knew who I really was. I should clarify that and say that this is for my benefit, and not a judgement on anyone else.

The photo I’ve been using since I began these ramblings was supposed to be a sort of ironically thoughtful pose – poking a little bit of fun at those who take themselves too seriously on their book covers. Of course irony doesn’t always translate and one blog I once visited laid into me for being overblown and laden with self-important pomposity. I was so taken aback that I just deleted my comment and left.

However, the other day I was looking for an image to use on my Skype profile and came across one that my son took of me last summer. What you can’t see is that I’d actually taken up a ‘Karate Kid’ style pose, standing one legged in the ‘crane spreads its wings’ position. Anyway, he caught the laughter in my face rather well and I thought that this was a warmer face to present to the world.

If you'd care to comment, I'd be interested to hear from anyone about why you chose the image (or not) used on your own blogger profile.

23 comments

Foot Eater said...

Good picture, Kim, though I thought the previous one was clever too.

I use this image on my profile because I wanted to present a less ugly one to the world than my own.

Charlie said...

A nice picture. Though you do look like you have smoked some pot and now have an attack of the munchies.

Dr Joseph McCrumble said...

If you read my posts entitled 'A never-ending shame (Jan 06 archive, Parts I-II) you may understand why I must endure a certain amount of anonymity. I also use a pseudonym when publishing for the same reason.

Kim Ayres said...

Foot Eater - and there was me assuming you looked like Brad Pitt all this time.

Charlie - haven't experienced that scenario for at least 17 years. Well, the smoking pot bit. I get attacks of the munchies on a daily basis

Dr J McC - I'll go and take a look just now

Kim Ayres said...

OK Doc, I can now see why you need to keep your identity concealed. Just remind me never to bring you a pet rabbit for treatment.

Charlie said...

Standing on one leg in crane pose? Quite good, but in an avatar you would have looked like some poor creature from an oil spill.

I'll take just the face, then, but I'll be wondering for a month or two who the hell you are when you comment.

As for me, I am a cat trapped in a man's body, or vice versa. I haven't figured it out yet.

SheBah said...

The blogosphere just judges you on your posts and comments - not your looks or your age or your size or your class etc. People can't help making judgements based on how someone looks and speaks. I think we all instinctively seek people like ourselves. If you read some of the reactons to the Irish Blogging Awards evening, many people were disappointed when they actually met other bloggers. I think they were all expecting Hollywood movie stars instead of average Joes and Joannas.

Sam, Problem-Child-Bride said...

Sexybeauty, well said. I however would be more disappointed if I found out Mr. Eater looked like Brad Pitt and not his gravatar. Please say it's you in the Gravatar, Footie!

Kim, I liked the old one too, but this is nice and jolly. I don't have a picture of me up yet because I haven't got around to getting a Flikr account yet and all my digital photos are on my husband's computer. Laziness and techie ineptitude on my part, but I plan on putting one up soon.
Gordon MacLean is giving problemchildbride a blog-lift, this month! Goodbye Wordpress default template! Hello Other, Zippier One!

Dr Joseph McCrumble said...

Things have improved since then Kim. We have since tested several new compounds on numerous wild rabbit populations without any obvious side effects, although admittedly we do have a low recovery rate as they tend to gnaw their way through the bars on the cages and escape. We are currently investigating the possibility that this one new compound confers a temporary state of super-laporidaen strength.

Rhonda said...

I like the new picture, Kim. But I'll miss the old one a bit, too. I thought the pose was hysterical. I'm surprised people missed the joke. Ah, well.

Jagd Kunst said...

You've gone from ironically thoughtful to man of the mountain, me thinks.

I have no photo because I'm not technically proficeint(?) enough to figure it out, although i have a good one on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/jagd_kunst

Naomi said...

I just changed my photo as well. I'm in so few photos that it took me a long time to find one that I could actually hack. I don't have the energy to keep up an alternate persona for blog land, what you see is what you get.

Binty McShae said...

I'm just rubbish with techie stuff and never got round to uploading anything. Even if I did it would probably only be the blunt cogs me.

Anonymous said...

Alright my blogging buddy, I am paying you back for that meme thing you requested that I do months ago.

You have been TAGGED!

Go to my blog to find out more.

Kim Ayres said...

Admiral - Comedian Eddie Izzard once referred to himself as a lesbian trapped in a man's body. Is this a similar thing?

Sexybeauty - I know what you mean, and for that reason I was wary when I got the chance to meet Dr Maroon, but I do like real people just as much

Sam, p-c-b If you can upload a photo to your blog, then you can use the same url code to transfer the picture to your blogger profile - if that makes sense

Dr J McC - learn something new every day! I had to look up the word leporidae!

Rhonda - Now that I've changed it once, I'll maybe end up experimenting with others over time

Jagd - Kim "Grizzley Adams" Ayres. Unfortunately it would never work - I have a need for soft toilet paper, rather than stinging nettles or passing rabbits, and that ruins any mountain-man credibility

Naomi - that's good to see. When you're focused on your children so much, you can lose you're own identity if you're not careful. Time to stamp your image back on the world!

Binty - as I said to Sam, you can upload a picture to your blog entry, then look at the Edit HTML view, and take the url from there and place it in out blogger profile bit.

RNP - Are those Miss E's feet? They look ripe for tickling!

I'm about to head out for the day so will check out the tagging later.

Gyrobo said...

I always thought your old avatar was cool. Then again, what am I but another of life's foibles?

The avatar that represents this facade, this farce, exists solely because it was the first really cool thing I drew in Paint.

Attila the Mom said...

I liked the old and the new.

You have such a lovely smile in the new one.

I thought I'd post this today, for the one day that I'm profiled as the hoochie warrior mama before I go back to my little bed-headed doggie.

Anonymous said...

Yes those are Miss E's feet!

Nikki said...

I like your photo Kim. Good smile. I have pixelated frog vomit. See? It's not really from vomit of course, it's supposed to be of a very lovely landscape that was taken in Croatia. I put a post up on my blog about it not to long ago called "Confessions of a Computer Dork". If I could figure out how to link in the comments, I'd do it, but I can't. Seriously.

Stella said...

Love the photo Kim, like the old one too.

Kim Ayres said...

Gyrobo - drawing in Paint is not easy - you have quite a skill there.

Atilla - This illustrates what I mean - I can't help but think of you in a slightly different way when I see Xena rather than the dog attached to your comments.

RNP - I've now done your meme

Nikki - welcome to my ramblings. Pixelated Frog Vomit is unique - I like it :)

Stella - thanks

SafeTinspector said...

I used to change mine VERY frequently. (GB found it quite irritating.)
Once I was a construction cone. A siamese cat. Myself sweaty. A vary large picture of my left eye.
You can see most of them if you look at the ancient comments on GB's early posts.

I've sortof left it as this cartoon robot ever since you and El B started Blunt Cogs.

I consider myself a super open person, and have posted pictures of myself, my wife, my daughter, my house, my work, cars on my daily commute, etc.
Not recently, as I've been sortof consumed with the Closure series, but I don't feel the need to maintain my anonymity.

happykat said...

You're smile is contagious!
It's a keeper.
:}

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