Selfie-Taking

[bags27]

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[abrewer]

A stirring reflection of the modern (the Selfie-Stick) and the eternal (feminine beauty, the ocean and the sky).

[epand56]

This picture is quite nice but makes me feel very sad.

[bags27]

This picture is quite nice but makes me feel very sad.

thanks. a very provocative assessment. I'd love to know what provoked that sentiment: Toten und das Ma"dchen?

[stuny]

Very nice, but as Harry points out, it's really a bit sad on more than one level.

[abrewer]

I personally don't see any sadness at all here. Look at this young woman's face. She is in rapture. Her body language does not suggest sadness either.

 

I have a young friend who carries a Selfie-Stick everywhere, and records videos of her thoughts and experiences all the time. For her, this living diary is essential to her existence. She takes enormous pride and gains tremendous self-confidence from posting her work online, and others seem to enjoy living vicariously through her. 

 

I'm perplexed why you think it "sad."

[bags27]

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I agree with abrewer. I'm not trying to "defend" the photo, just that I remember the girl as pretty happy and I think the picture suggests the same. But that's the great thing about photography: interpretable. 

[RayD28]

I personally don't see any sadness at all here. Look at this young woman's face. She is in rapture. Her body language does not suggest sadness either.

 

I have a young friend who carries a Selfie-Stick everywhere, and records videos of her thoughts and experiences all the time. For her, this living diary is essential to her existence. She takes enormous pride and gains tremendous self-confidence from posting her work online, and others seem to enjoy living vicariously through her. 

 

I'm perplexed why you think it "sad."

 

 

Good observation and question.  It's clear she wants to take a good photograph.  Notice how she is tippy-toeing to get the right composition.  

 

I used to think taking selfies was narcissistic or at lease self-absorption, but now I just attribute it to a generational difference in how people communicate using new technology.  

 

Having said all that, I am a Luddite (google if needed) when it comes to photography.  I imagine many Leica forum members are photography Luddites to some degree, so any photo that includes someone, like this lovely lady, being so excited and meticulous about taking a self-portrait with a $100 phone is going to cause some of us mixed feelings.   

 

Did the photo evoke a touch of sadness?  For me, yes.  Perhaps some jealousy and resentment, too.  But many selfies and pictures of people taking selfies do also.  

 

This post has run long and a little downbeat.  Maybe I'll grab my light meter and load some HP5 in an M3 and use the self-timer and show the world how to make a real selfie!

Edited July 11, 2018 by RayD28

[david strachan]

Probably the longest running genre of all types of art and self expression. All the classic painters through history have painted themselves. As have past photographers.

 

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[david strachan]

Rather beaut picture. She's attractive and happy.

 

Like the composition and treatment too.

 

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