On a recent trip overseas, I expected to see selfie sticks everywhere. After all, not only do we wish to place ourselves in exotic (or beautiful) locales, but we wish to look tip top — at the proper distance, at our best angles, the backdrop just so — when we are about to capture that happy smile and share it on Instagram, Twitter, and anywhere else we enjoy posting.
To my surprise, though my companion and I hit at least a dozen notable locations over the course of six days, only once did I see the potentially practical and offending wonder wand itself — the selfie stick.
And, I might add, in one location, a prominent sign strictly forbid this very (intrusive?) clever contraption.
Like many of us, I remember the days when we didn’t have smartphones or tablets, and therefore, we couldn’t take selfies. Nor could we avail ourselves of a delay function, enabling us set the camera on a surface and scoot in front of it. Our Instamatics and Canons (and Polaroids for the impatient) offered no such sophistication at the time.
Instead, we were required to ask a kindly stranger to take a picture of us. All Very Touristy. Naturally, we would size him or her up first, not only to minimize the embarrassment, but to assess if we would annoy. While most of my snapshots from trips going back years do not include yours truly, I nonetheless possess a few (that make me chuckle) there were impeccably composed by smiling strangers with a glimpse of Moscow or the Riviera behind me.
So where do you stand on the subject? While on vacation or touring a museum — to selfie or not to selfie? To assume the position (or not) at a greater distance from the lens courtesy of the selfie stick?
One of the concerns I have with the selfie stick, though I readily recognize its usefulness, is the following. Without it, in theory, the greatest amount of space you can take up when taking a shot of yourself is the distance of your arm as it is extended. However, once you affix your device to a selfie stick, suddenly you are potentially interfering with the pleasure of others, and you are quite literally In Their Space.
No wonder there was a “nix” on the sticks in one museum where I wandered about.
I’m all for placing ourselves in an environment so we snap a few frames or video to make mementos. And what’s not to love about texting a picture to a friend, or for that matter, posting it to your wall or the feed of your choice? Where I have concerns is when we take it too far – when we are more involved in snapping pics than enjoying the experience, and more absorbed by what others will think than what we gain from what we’re doing.
Naturally, I found myself snapping away while cruising the Seine, and attempting (and flubbing) a few selfies here and there with a new tablet. I’m glad I didn’t get too wrapped up in that little activity, or I would’ve missed some other delights — everything from the sighting of a very interesting bearded gentleman on a rather unique vehicle (of his design?), a startling pooch of substantial dimensions, an equally quirky mirrored form in the shape of some sort of creature that elicits a smile, not to mention the exceptional experience of coming upon Brussel’s Grande Place at night.
So I guess I’m a stickler for selfie moderation and selfie etiquette, with or without a stick. Yes, I love my moments as captured by my amateur attempts at photography, and the way they keep the experiences I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy sharp in memory. But isn’t it intriguing when you make new friends by politely asking, “Would you mind taking a picture?”
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I’ve never used a selfie stick, but I’ve asked many strangers to take a photo. Quite frankly, I love to be the stranger who is asked, and actually often volunteer if I see a fellow mother snapping photos of her offspring. “I’ll get one with all of you,” I offer – and she is usually grateful!
So right, Missy! It IS fun volunteering to snap (or tap) a photo of a group or family. 🙂
I took my selfie stick to Paris and Germany when I traveled there this winter. Loved having it. Of course, I used discretion and was courteous and used it with my phone. Because we were traveling with my son and his wife, it enabled us to get some great group shots – which yes, we would have had to bother someone to take had we not had it. It telescopes down to a short length (10 inches I guess??) and I usually slipped that up my sleeve and held the end of it so it was unobtrusive too. It even gave me a bit more street cred (at least in my quirky mind) because I felt I had a club if the need be after an unfortunate turn of an unfamiliar corner. Never needed that. I vote yes to Selfies and Selfie sticks.
Telescoping stick… hmmm… That makes sense. (Your optional usage cracks me up, Barbara. Glad it wasn’t required. ;))
The old fashioned way: ask somebody to take my picture.
Sometimes, I would leave in a bad picture, something out of focus, and when showing off my trip photos, I would explain that this photo was when I asked a stranger to take my picture; he attempted to steal my camera, and I had to wrestle him to the ground.
Excellent, Mr. Belle! (A little intrigue is always entertaining.)
On our last trip we took tons of selfies to make a calendar with the images. We also asked strangers to take our picture, which were invariably out of focus!
That’s when we spotted people using selfie sticks and then I was surprised with one for Christmas. I still haven’t figured out how to keep my arm from looking weird.
I’d never interfere with others while using it, but think it might be fun to figure out. I’m sort of uncoordinated with it I suppose.
I recently have been pondering the idea of way back when we hated having our photos taken. Well, most people did! Now,people cannot get ENOUGH of themselves especially a few BLOGS I follow. What does that mean? LOOK at ME I’m BEAUTIFUL……….. SEE ME NOW, look how I’m aging. I canNOT decide if I like it or NOT!
How did I miss YOU trotting off to EUROPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How is your BACK? I would like one or THREE of your SELFIES PLEASE!!!
You know my email address!!!!!!!
XX
Actually, Contessa, if you look in one of the photos I posted here — very carefully — you will see a little person reflected. That’s one of my selfie’s!
The back was a challenge, but Paris cures everything, at least for a few days.
Like you, I have mixed feelings about all of the selfies, the self-promotion, and the images of individuals / bloggers social media stars that we see blasted across the Internet, including on blogs I like as well. I understand the reasons for it, and I do find it encouraging and helpful to see real women — especially of a certain age — and how they look. We don’t see enough imagery of real women over 45.
However this just perpetuates the way in which we value women — by their appearance. And it comes across, to me at least, as part of the increasingly narcissistic society in which we live.
In this as with other things, I believe that moderation would be a better path. It’s fun and interesting to see real women, and for us to see each other; just not all the time.