What is America’s preoccupation with taking selfies? You can’t sling a dead cat without hitting somebody posing for their own camera, likely duck-facing in front of their phone. It seems no time or place is sacred when it comes to selfies.
Yes, I know. Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. I have to confess, I’ve shot a few selfies over the years – none of them duckfaces may I point out (since I think duckfaces are stupid looking). And, like many of you, I do tend to take a selfie when I arrive at an event or at a vacation location.
However, I try to be appropriate when I do take them, with the exception of my recent selfie on the swinging bridge at Fall Creek Falls. On that day, I paused in the middle of the bridge to take a selfie along with a couple of friends. I did this while there was a line on either side to cross the bridge, much to the chagrin of those sweltering in the heat, waiting to make their crossings. I’m sure there were some choice words mumbled as we stood smiling up at my camera in the middle of the bridge.
“Load limit eight” on the swinging bridge is just a suggestion. I say the more the merrier. It just makes for better swinging.
While that was my indiscretion, there are some who have no shame when taking a selfie. My sister-in-law was recently in New York City where she witnessed several folks snapping selfies at the 911 Memorial. That’s a bit crass even compared to my swinging bridge shot. Shooting pictures is one thing but putting on a duckface or stupid grin and snapping a selfie of yourself inside a solemn memorial where thousands of people were murdered is just in bad taste.
So, why am I on selfies all of a sudden? Because Tuesday was National Selfie Day. Yes, there’s a day for everything and apparently there’s even a day set aside to take selfies. There’s a world full of pages about selfies, some of which even give you advice on how to take the perfect selfie.
For instance, did you know a selfie generally looks better if you shoot it downward? And, it’s more flattering if you tilt your head slightly to highlight your cheek bones.
Reading through Selfie Day material on the internet I learned the rule of thirds which is apparently some big thing when it comes to selfies. The rule of third means that your eye line should be about one-third down from the top of the frame when shooting a selfie and that your face should be to either side of the middle of the frame.
Will national selfie day encourage me to make more selfies? Probably not. I try to keep my selfies to a minimum and I’m not a joiner when it comes to silly days that people pronounce. Let’s put it this way. I’m not going to rush out and buy a selfie stick anytime soon. So, feel free to selfie away. Just avoid the duckface.
Standard reporter Duane Sherrill can be reached at 473-2191.