JOIN USIt was declared as the word of 2013 and even included in the Oxford dictionary. Selfie, the process of taking photographs of oneself with a hand-held camera or phone, is the buzzword at the moment as people of all ages enjoy taking it.
It has created waves around the world and probably even above it as an astronaut was in the news for clicking a selfie in space and so was a fighter pilot for taking one in the skies! While on one hand, selfie has the Pope’s approval for sure (as he posed sweetly for one with a group of youngsters), it has created controversies on the other.
The selfie of the US President Barack Obama at the memorial of the late Nelson Mandela faced the wrath of many and the one taken by popstar Rihanna with two endangered monkeys in Thailand even led to the arrest of two guys! But whatever said and done, it’s something that everyone just loves.
Metrolife spoke to college students to find out what is it about a selfie that they like or hate.
Useful tips
Dani Rieyang, studying in third year BA, St Joseph’s College of Arts & Science, offers a few tips on how to take a great selfie. “You should not be sitting in dark. Make sure that you are facing the light. Also, the angle at which you are taking a selfie is very important. It’s always better to take it with a phone that has a front-facing camera. While most celebrities pout while they are taking a selfie, please keep in mind that not everyone looks good pouting,” she advises.
Balanced approach
Siddharth Joseph, a sixth-semester student of Bangalore Institute of
Technology, says, “I don’t take selfies that often. It depends on the situation for me. If I am with a group of friends, I would rather have someone else take my photograph. It always comes better than a selfie. But if I am alone and want to send an instant photo to my friends, selfie is the way out.”
Favourite pastime
Archana, a third-year BSW student, St Joseph’s College of Arts & Science, feels that a selfie is a great form of expression. “It’s my favourite pastime. I love it because you can do things that you can’t do in front of others. You can make any face you want to and take a picture without feeling too conscious,” she shares.
A big no
Siddharth Chaudhary, a student of sixth semester, Bangalore
Institute of Technology, is not a big fan of selfies. “I prefer proper pictures or self portraits taken by someone else any day. A selfie is a like a digital diary where you are just telling everyone every little thing about yourself. Once, a friend had actually taken a selfie in a washroom. Isn’t it a little too much?” he asks.
Self-indulgence
Irene, a third-year BA student at St Joseph’s College of Arts & Science, can never get bored of taking a selfie. “I don’t think it’s self-indulgent at all. One can take hundreds of selfies with different expressions and never get bored of it. My personal favourite is Miranda Kerr. I follow her on Instagram and she takes the best selfies,” she says.