When I was younger, I didn’t mind people taking my picture. These days, that’s not the case. I now cringe walking through the clothing department of a store where mirrors are present—quickly turning the other direction. It’s bad enough to view my physical decline in the bathroom mirror each morning, let alone out in public.
Just recently, I needed a photo to go along with a story I was writing on selfies and decided to snap my own. This was my first such photograph. The guys I grew up with would say taking photographs of oneself is vanity. If that’s the case, millions are guilty these days, myself now included.
I had to first be instructed on how to take a selfie using my wife’s Apple iPhone. I didn’t realize smartphones have a reverse lens until a friend showed me. I can see good use of this for women (and some men) while putting on makeup.
Choosing a local park where Christmas lights were present, the intent was to capture my mug posed in front of the city Christmas tree. This holiday act didn’t seem vain. Even so, thankfully, no one was close by to see what I was doing.
It wasn’t until getting home and viewing the shot on a bigger screen that I noticed my eyes were barely open. I was evidently expecting a bright flash like my Kodak camera gives off when the shutter is pushed. Reflective action on my brain’s part automatically closed my peepers.
Another trip back to that location was made for a second take. This time, I took several just to make sure one was good enough to use. That was only obtained by finally removing my glasses.
I get a kick out of watching other people secretly snap selfies, generally younger girls and guys. Most of them, I assume, are trying to lasso something of significant interest in conjunction with their face.
A few, without doubt, are trying to capture their own beauty. One guy at Rotary Park was actually attempting to flex his stomach muscles while doing so; the only problem is, he didn’t have any.
The history of selfies goes back even further than I thought. While selfies might seem like a recent trend, the act of taking self-portraits has a surprisingly long history. In fact, the first recognized photographic selfie was taken in 1839 by Robert Cornelius, an amateur chemist and photography enthusiast, who set up his camera and captured his own image by removing the lens cap and then running into the frame.
Over the decades, self-portraiture evolved with technology, moving from painted self-portraits to photographs using timers or mirrors on film cameras. I’ve used timers on my Kodak but never considered that a selfie.
With the introduction of digital cameras and, eventually, smartphones equipped with front-facing cameras, taking selfies became accessible and convenient for nearly everyone.
Social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat further popularized the trend, turning selfies into a cultural phenomenon. Today, people from all walks of life use selfies to capture moments, express themselves, and connect with others around the world.
Even more creative than selfies, I’m told that AI (artificial intelligence) can take your picture and place it anywhere you ask. If you desire to be eating dinner at the same table as the Kardashians, no problem. Shooting hoops with Michael Jordan, consider it done.
The process is so refined and perfected that it’s hard to discern what’s fake and real. Because of this, taking selfies may eventually become a thing of the past, much like tintype photographs and 35mm cameras.
If you ask me what selfie I would most like to take, the answer is easy. I’d love to snap one with all of my departed family and friends standing beside me, and Jesus Christ in the middle. While some would say AI can now make that possible through trick photography, I’m not inclined to accept mere imagery.
The real deal gets much closer with each passing day. You see, with eternity meaning forever, no pictures will be needed in Heaven to always remember people by. That’s something I look forward to!
I like to write junk... 