I initially only started taking selfies because I found myself to be the only out that would bring a camera or take photographs. Selfies were the only way I could prove that I was there and let the world see the face that I probably took a lot of time to paint. I even used to resort to taking pictures of my mirror reflection so I can show off outfits to the world. I probably should have just taken the hint when no one wanted to photograph me.
Now, we take selfies with our friends in the background taking a selfie of them photobombing your selfie.
As much as I do like to take photos of an event, sometimes I find that doing so actually stops me from being able to enjoy the event. I attended the Jay-Z and Kanye West concert in 2012 and proceeded to film most of the songs. The problem with this is that I couldn’t rap along (probably a good thing) because I didn’t want my vocals recorded. I also couldn’t dance, because doing so would shake the camera too much to get decent footage. So I proceeded to stay as still as a statue whilst holding my breath so I could capture footage and watch it later. Anyone who dared bump into me whilst actually enjoying the concert (fools!) would be met with a sharp cut eye. I rushed home and patiently waited the 9 hours it took to upload the videos. When they were finally on my laptop, I found that the zoom had made Jay and ‘Ye blurry and the sounds of everyone else enjoying the performance had drowned them out. As I sat there despairingly, I couldn’t help but wish that I’d actually just watched it while I was there.
This also made me think of all the things I've seen people take pictures of or with that they're not actually interested in. I couldn't help remember the funny image of Kim Kardashian trying to take a selfie with an elephant in Thailand, and then run away in terror when it tried to interact with her.
The good thing about selfies though, is that you’re (usually) in control of it. I know my best angles (any of them) and know how to avoid photographing a scar or that double chin that only seems to appear in photos. Gone are the days where someone would post a horrific photo of you and you would have to race home so you can untag yourself. I had a friend who would always post pictures at 9am because she knew that by the time I could remove it, everyone would have seen it anyway. Now I don’t have to worry about my forehead looking like a light bulb, because I can just add a filter that makes me look like an angel instead.
me: *takes 50 selfies*
me: *deletes 49*
me: *stares at that one selfie til it turns ugly*
me: *deletes that too*
Or I take a heap of good photos and then have the painstaking task of selecting just the one, so I don't come across as too vain.
I've noticed that I rarely see a full body photo of anyone anymore. People don't even pose normally, often opting to take a selfie over handing a camera to someone instead. Maybe that's because I live in Croydon and that would probably be the last time you'd see your camera/phone.
Despite the craze about selfies, which has been around a lot longer than its official name, I was shocked to see Groupon selling a selfie stick.
There's someone on my facebook who travelled quite a lot on his own last year. As a result, all his photos were selfies. As I looked at images of his forehead as he tried to capture the sights behind him, I couldn't help thinking that he could have used this stick. I might even buy one for my mum so I won't be commanded to take her picture all the time.
I recently upgraded my phone and synced it with last phone so I could keep all my photos, videos and apps. I was showing my family my new phone and my concern wasn't about the messages they may come across. I was worried that someone would look at my photos and see all the selfies I took. Then I remembered that I am my mother's daughter and she without sin cast the first stone (or take the first selfie).
I actually like looking at selfies of people, if only for make up inspiration etc. But I think its a shame that we even have to add #nofilter to our photos. There was a time when there was no filter, you just printed your pictures off in Boots and hoped for the best. Now we have to make it clear that when we look good, its not because of photoshop or because we softened the tones of the photo. There are some people that I know in real life that I don't recognise on Instagram and vice versa.
If we're good looking enough to want to memoralise our faces, lets do it in a honest way beautiful people. Unless you're aesthetically challenged. Then just stop taking photos. Please. It's a filter, not a cure. (And anyone who says there's no such thing as an ugly person, is probably just ugly themselves :-p)