My last post is kind of an interesting segue into this month’s Self Portrait Challenge theme, “imperfection”. The participants have been challenged to “dig into our imperfect selves and reveal them”. It will be interesting to see everyone’s interpretation- if it’s our imperfect bodies that are focused on, or some other deeper parts of our lives that we are ready to share.

I am starting simple this month with a picture of my ankle. The one that needs surgery. This photo is interesting to me for the topic of “imperfection” because it’s not what you see that needs to be fixed. On the surface, my foot looks healthy and strong. I wear my henna proudly and pose with a confidence that can only come from showing you a part of myself that I think is beautiful. But right there, under that perfect skin, is a joint that has failed me. It was too weak to withstand the original injury that caused the break, and too unstable to heal itself properly. Any unsteady step could cause severe reinjury, complicating what my doctor calls now a “simple outpatient surgery”. You would never know, just by looking, that there is pain there under the surface of my skin.

I wonder what other invisible hurts I will have the courage to photograph.

More self portraits here.