Long before the proliferation of selfies, self-portraits were an important form of expression in art and photography. The challenge is partially technical, since it’s difficult to be both subject and artist. But it’s also a creative challenge to represent yourself in a single image.
Self-portraits existed before photography and often represent an artist’s style. In photography, self-portraits often make use of shadow, reflection and illusions.
For one modern example, Julia Corbett, a photographer and WSU alumna, uses nature imagery and composite images (combining multiple exposures) to create a particular mood in her self-portraits.