Anyone with a smart phone camera is likely guilty of a little bit of self-infatuation in the form of a selfie. Add new, exciting destinations and the travel selfie is now far more prominent than the ‘old style’ family photo outside the Eiffel Tower. Instead we are getting pictures looking right up someone’s nose with the Eiffel’s iron lattice coming out of their head. But throw in the latest product fueling this craze, a selfie stick, and all your problems are solved.
While selfies aren’t exactly a new thing, there was a guy who managed to take a ‘selfie’ back in the 1980’s; it has really only come into society in the past decade. The catalyst was social networking site MySpace and its need for a profile picture. When Apple released an iPhone with a front facing camera, all hell broke loose and the selfie was part of everyday life.
With travelers, the desire to show them in a place, as a demonstration they were actually there has grown stronger. However, as smartphones have become more and more the preferred camera while travelling, people aren’t as forthcoming handing over their valuable possessions to strangers as many have done with film and digital cameras in the past, hence the rise of a travel selfie; it didn’t happen unless you have a photo to prove it, RIGHT?!
While up the nostril selfies are ever so pleasing, and evolution hasn’t given us extra long arm lengths, just yet, sometimes you need a little help for the perfect selfie. This comes in the form of a selfie stick and tourists have caught on quick to it.
It is a claw like expanding wand, think trash-picker, that’s been modified to hold an iPhone at the end.
While this may seem for the extremely self-involved, before you point fingers, or sticks, a quick look around social media and you will see there are thousands catching on to the trend, especially travelers.
For those traveling around the States with a selfie stick you may get the odd look or crazy eyes, but Asia is right up there with the craze and you are probably just another couple taking a selfie on a stick.
So will it last or just be a fad? Teens in Singapore are going wild for the self snapper stick while South Korea recently passed a law fining those that use one, which in my opinion most likely makes it more appealing. Time will tell.
And yes, if you were wondering, I have been known to use a selfie stick and in fact I own one.
Herstory is a weekly column on women and travel by Steph Ridhalgh. Steph is a Sydney born; New York based television producer and travel blogger. Not one for being quiet for too long she simply loves talking about travel and lifestyle.
Steph is the founder of STEP(h) ABROAD, a travel and lifestyle resource for those who love to be in the know and know how.
