The Selfie

Digital photography and camera phones really are fantastic, aren't they?

No more snapping away in the dark, hoping for the best that you don't have your thumb over the lens. No more waiting for Truprint to process your roll of film, only to find half the photos have stickers on telling you that you have camera shake. The stickers were unnecessary, frankly. I could see with my own inexpert eyes just how poor my photos were. Dark, disappointing, fuzzy images and half-closed eyes are, fortunately, a thing of the past.

Now we can take as many photographs as we like and select the best images, publishing them instantly onto social media. You don't need anyone to take your picture, you can do it yourself.

And so, the selfie was born.

Wherever you are and whatever you're doing, you can record it and share it with the world.

At the hairdressers? You must Instagram your hair in the mirror before, during and after your cut and colour.

Unwell? You need to show us exactly how rough you look, so we can respond with the appropriate level of sympathy.

Met a celebrity? Take an arm's length selfie or we simply won't believe it happened.

All dolled up and about to go out? You must share how amazing you look - especially if it's a rare night out.

Met a friend for drinks? Show us how much fun you're having. Raise that glass.

On holiday? You must share your just got out of the pool look.

Home alone and bored? Take seventy seven photos of yourself pulling faces. You never know, one of them may be good enough to be your new avatar.

Please tell me that last one isn't just me.

You could pretend someone else took the photograph and caught you looking naturally glamorous or hilarious, but we know it was you.

How many selfies do you take? Or, to put it another way, exactly how much of a narcissist are you?

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This is my entry into The Photo Gallery: Week 140. The Gallery has been going for 140 weeks - how did that happen? The theme this week is self-portrait.


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