How to Take a Self-Portrait

When I lived in France, I became aware of a popular new photography technique known as the self-portrait. Later, I met people who preferred the self-portrait to a normal photograph and would be hugely vexed if any other methods of photography were used. It's taken the world over by storm! I was intrigued and had to investigate this rising trend.

The self-portrait looks something like the following. An individual of any age or social-eco background takes a digital camera and extending the length of his arm, points it towards himself. Making any combination of queer, bizarre, strange and unnatural faces, he proceeds to press “the big button” and crystallizes the image of himself…himself. The face takes up most if not the entire photo. Clever self-portraitists will manage to get several friends in there with them. When this is done, many physical features such as ears and eyes will be missing off any number of the participants. That…is how it’s done. My "adopted sister" Livia and my sister Rose illustrate that well in the related photo.

There must be several reasons for the rise of the self portrait. First, with digital photography, you can simply delete the photos you don’t want. Indeed, one must take at least 10 self-portraits before finding a satisfying one. Second, with the rise of social networks such as Facebook and MySpace, the demand for photos of oneself has risen hugely. Naturally who is better to fill this demand then oneself. Third, you no longer need someone to be around to take photos of you. You can travel by yourself and get most the Eiffel Tower in your picture, half of Big Ben, a quarter of the Statue of Liberty. There is the drawback that the self-portrait allows maybe half an inch to maneuver the background into. I pity those who try Mount Rushmore.