Oh how I hate selfie sticks!
Being someone who loves clicking pictures, I actually should be
ecstatic that someone somewhere invented this device where the photographer too
is a part of a picture instead of just being a constant clicker. Now, I don’t
have to be the 'outlier', standing with my camera, clicking away, getting picture courtesy’d
and strutting around flaunting the better clicks – sometimes impressing people
with some photography mumbo-jumbo. But that is not what taking a picture is
about, right?
What is the inherent idea of taking a picture? Creating a
memory or putting a moment on record. Of course, I am not getting into the
short term objective of social media posts and display pictures. However, the
long term idea is that when you look back to this picture; say after 20 years,
you’ll remember the trip and the moment when it was clicked.
Now think of how a selfie stick memory will be like? “Oh! We went to the beach and clicked this
picture of us together. Cute, right?”
And how it used to be around 5 years back? “Oh! We went to the beach and wanted a picture
together. So we requested this random tea-stall guy to click. But the dude didn’t
know how and we had to teach him. After a point, even our smiles had to
be forced. It took him 10 attempts to finally get the right one and he did take
a decent one. Later he apologized for the delay since he had never handled a
camera before and was excited. This is that perfect picture he took – oh but
look at the other ones too. Actually it was fun seeing him handle a camera.
Sweet boy.”
What’s the difference? In addition to the picture, you got
yourself a story. You interacted with a complete stranger and shared a moment
with him. The whole experience wasn’t about you or your group, but it got
extended to someone you never knew existed. Somewhere you gave him a happy memory
too!
There is a whole process that is getting eradicated.
It starts with scanning the potential picture-takers from the available humans
around - those already with a camera being preferred! Trying to figure out the
right thing to say - especially if you’re a bunch of girls requesting a guy and
his lady seems, well, conservative. Assuring the person that the camera settings are
all in place and all you have to do is click. Maybe, strike a deal – you click
mine, I’ll click yours.
Of course, you always have these over enthusiastic bunch of people,
who strike up a conversation about who you are and where you’re going, which adds
more to the whole interaction.
But the point is can you imagine the responsibility on the
person at that moment? Some people actually look scared - holding the camera like a bomb! A complete
stranger - you’ll probably never see or talk to again - cares so much about
your picture being perfect. It’s like their life depends on it. They even take
2-3 shots to ensure you are happy! Damn, they care! And the satisfactory smile
on their faces, when you thank them? Priceless!
We hardly converse with unknown people. Be it due to technology or
society in general – strangers are becoming more distant. Suspicions and doubts
creep in before any other feeling when a stranger strikes up a conversation with
you. Comfort zones are what make a person happy – my circle, people I know, my
house, the pub I go to every weekend and of course, my selfie stick!
Somewhere there is a lack of an interesting story with a memory
created through a selfie stick. Maybe there’ll be one if a random stranger
snatches the one in your hand, breaks it and then offers to click your picture.
That would be epic. Also, psychopathic - to some people.
Ok, this can go on. I should stop now.