I recently got back from a vacation to Jamaica for which I was the official photographer. Over the span of a week, I took about 500 shots of various vistas, landscapes, fauna, and friends. The photos, an attempt to capture the beauty of the place, serve as great mementos of some favourite moments from my time spent there. Admittedly, I also took a few selfies.
For me, the various collages become somewhat of a photo essay or a story I want to tell of the spaces and faces of places I visit. I enjoy setting up for a great shot and, especially, waiting patiently for that right moment to capture a perfect snap. For the most part, my lens is pointed at the world I wish to record. What I discovered, however, was that many folks were interested not in the beauty around them, but rather in taking selfies.
We know that selfies are nothing new. They are a fun way to document where we’ve been and whom we were with. They tell the personal side of one’s story and often capture a special moment with that special someone. Also, with the advent of the selfie-stick there is no longer a need to impose your camera upon a fellow tourist. You can do it yourself. There are, however, cautionary tales to be told which are far worse than the numerous times someone bumped into me whilst in the process of taking their selfie.
Almost as bad as distracted drivers are the distracted walkers taking a selfie. They are simply and blissfully oblivious to their surroundings. Can you blame them? I mean who wouldn’t want their photo taken with all those new upgrades at the EIA? I witnessed a few folks walk into doors, glass partitions, furniture, and other people, myself included. This also happens in malls, hallways, sporting events and even more so for some reason, at concerts. Most people offer a quick apology or make light of their careless selfie moment. Some do not.
There are, increasingly, some thrill-seeking types who desire to have their ultimate moment of narcissistic glory captured for posterity. Sadly, for a moment of vanity, they will forego common sense and good social graces to obtain their ‘worth-a-thousand-words’ moment. Put in terms of general safety: escalators, stairs, areas of high traffic are not good places to take selfies. It only takes one careless moment to injure yourself or others. There is documented proof.
Recent tragic selfie events include the death of Anna Krupeynikova, a young Russian woman who fell off a bridge, and the Polish couple, who in front of their young children, plunged off a 140-metre cliff in Cabo da Roca, Portugal. There are countless more tales of death and injury by selfie, which include skyscrapers, trains, wild animals, firearms, and people operating vehicles or recreational craft. The Russian government has recently published a document informing citizens how to take safe-selfies. I believe Charles Darwin also wrote something quite fitting on a topic closely related to this.
We all have quick access to cameras in our phones. We all like to take photos and capture those special moments and even the not so special ones, which also somehow make it on to Facebook. In any event, smile, say cheese, but above all, please be safe when taking your selfies!
Tim Cusack is an educator, writer, and member of the RCN.
