Photo Assignment 1: Self Portrait Kyla Grant

Kyla Grant poses for a self-portrait in the reflection of “The Bean,” in Chicago’s Millennium Park, Saturday, September 5, 2026.

For my self-portrait, I chose to photograph myself in the reflection of Cloud Gate, also known as “The Bean,” in Chicago. I visited Chicago for the first time this past weekend and spent the day walking and shopping around the downtown area. I went to see The Bean with the idea of capturing my self-portrait in the reflection. I thought it would be a really cool and unique place to take it because I love traveling, taking mirror selfies, and everything fashion. This photo captures my outfit that day in a more interesting setting that also shows where I was traveling. 

One of the biggest challenges was how many people were around. The Bean is a really popular tourist attraction, so there were people everywhere walking and taking pictures as well. It took a long time to find a spot where I could get a good angle of myself with as few people around as possible. I had to patiently wait for people to move and try different positions to get the photo I liked. I even tried taking a picture from under The Bean, but there was barely any natural lighting. I think I could have planned better by going earlier in the morning when it was less crowded, but I also liked how the people in the background showed how busy and lively the city was.

Another challenge was how dirty the surface of The Bean was. There were smudges and marks all over it. This made the photo less clear and made it harder to get the perfect picture. I walked all around the bean to try and get a spot with a cleaner reflection but there were smudges visible everywhere. I also tried editing the marks off afterward to help make the photo look clearer. I then realized that I did not want to edit it so much that it looked unrealistic, so I decided to keep the photo how it originally was.

Even though the smudges were frustrating at first, I ended up liking how they made the photo more real. In my opinion they represent how life is not always perfect or exactly how you plan it. I am typically a perfectionist when it comes to things like this but I chose to find the good in imperfections especially for this self-portrait. Sometimes I have a vision of how I want something to turn out, but I have learned to work with my result. I wanted a clear perfect shot of my reflection, then ended up with a photo that had people all around and smudges. I think that makes it more unique and interesting because it captures an actual moment from my trip and of my personality instead of looking like a perfectly staged photo.

I also think this photo represents my personality because I love fashion, taking pictures of my outfits, and traveling to new places. I am always taking mirror selfies, so using The Bean as a giant mirror felt like a fun way to make the assignment my own. I chose to wear a simple black halter top, my favorite low rise jeans, and brown suede kitten heels to match my bag. This outfit is one of my go-tos and was perfect to walk around the city in something cute and comfortable. I am holding up a peace sign which shows my playful side and it makes the photo more fun and not to serious. The city buildings, trees, and people all around in the reflection show my love for exploring and being outgoing in new environments.

Overall, I am happy with how my self-portrait turned out, even though it was not how I envisioned it and showcased imperfections, I think I did a good job choosing a setting that connected to my interests and related to my personality which showed who I am in a creative way through a self-portrait. If I were to do this assignment again, I would try to find a less crowded place and a cleaner area to get a better shot of myself. I still stand by my idea of capturing my self-portrait at The Bean while I was in Chicago. I loved that the photo captured my first trip to Chicago visiting one of my best friends while showing a little part of who I am through my outfit, pose, and surroundings. It is a reminder that a photo does not have to be perfect to mean something.