On our recent travel to Thailand, I noticed more than ever before, the insatiable need for people to take a selfie.
It got me thinking about the self-portrait and why we take them and now, with the smartphone and social media, why some take so many.
To my mind, there are two types of self-portrait, one for “internal” and one for “external” intention. One to doument a moment of time, another to promote the individual’s ‘brand’.
The first type of self-portrait is a document to remind the participants of a particular time or occurrence in a trip; an image that is viewed and reflected upon by the people in the photograph and is unlikely to be shared to the greater community. Our “internal” selfie. I have many examples such as this, of my wife and I at the floating market, which would normally only be seen by ourselves and perhaps a few friends who we show “our trip” to. No one else needs to see them.
What I think of when someone mentions “a selfie” – the second type of self-portrait – is for sharing with others; often at the point of capture.
These are images to show others. Where you are/how good you’re looking/how much fun you are having/what you’re doing, that they are not. These are “external” selfies and, in a holiday environment, seem to be quite prevalent. All but the first two of the images below were captured on a small beach on Phi Phi Island in less than 10 minutes, and there were plenty more.
I am not judging, everyone can do as they see is fit. If you have something you want to share then, away you go. It’s all just entertaining.
As you look through these, are they being captured primarily for internal or external intent? What do you think?
And don’t get me started on the selfie-stick… 😉
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