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In today’s technologically driven society, a word or update with a friend is a short call, text message, e-mail or tweet away. Often, the media of social networking sites and online photo albums become some of the only words two friends may speak to each other for weeks.

For Greensboro resident Ashley Selby and her friend Chelsea Roberson, a whole country geographically divides their friendship. The two women are in their mid-20s. Roberson moved to the San Diego, Calif., area in January.

Selby and Roberson, both photographers, met at Harding University in Arkansas and have years of experience with a long-distance friendship. This separation has resulted in letters and packages, but their newest form of correspondence is a bit more unique.

“The majority of our friendship has been long distance, and we’ve always sort of thrived in that situation,” Roberson said. “It’s become increasingly difficult to keep up with each other during the past year with our different lives and schedules, so we wanted something that would not only connect us, but push us as artists and photographers.”

That push comes in the form of a photo blog called Face to Face, which they launched about 10 weeks ago. The two photographers admitted they hate having their own pictures taken, but decided this form of correspondence would not only keep the other abreast of each other’s lives, but challenge them as artists.

“The process is pretty simple,” Roberson said. “We each take our self-portrait sometime during the week and then post them together on Friday. We don’t talk about it, and we don’t peek at the other’s photo until we’ve decided on ours, so that it’s a complete surprise.”

“As a photographer, it has definitely challenged me to rethink snapping a shot real quick,” said Selby, a graphic designer and co-owner of This Paper Ship graphic design studio. “The project is a lot more thought-provoking.”

Both ladies agree the blog showcases the friends’ different styles. Roberson is a bit more photojournalistic and Selby more “artistic and daring,” Roberson said.

“(Face to Face) has forced us to take a moment and appreciate each other’s lives,” Selby said. “We may not be having a conversation, but we are through photos. It sort of makes me feel like I am (in San Diego).”

Roberson and Selby’s friends and families follow Face to Face. Both women hope that others might view and comment on the project, as well. But the photo blog is mostly a way for the two to keep in touch in a nontraditional way.

The two photographers plan to work on the project for a year, but both Selby and Roberson say they are not opposed to continuing it further.

“It’s been a really great experience so far,” Roberson said.

And even when the photos differ extremely in style, she said, the two find a lot of similarities in the setup or focus of their portraits, despite the weekly secrecy.

After all, when friends form that special bond, they do things such as finish each other’s sentences, wear similar outfits without planning and sometimes take similar portraits, despite the thousands of miles between them.

Contact Charla Duncan at charla.duncan@gmail.com