Bomb Self-Portrait  – © John Neel

Lately, thanks to the cell phone, taking a picture of yourself by extending the camera to arms length and aiming it towards ones face, seems to be a new concept. The trendy new term used to describe this act, is referred to as a “selfie”.

Well, I have news that may come as a surprise to some. Artists have been looking at themselves for eons. It is not a new concept. It is not anything earth shattering.

However, there is a difference between why some do it/did it as artistic works, and what is happening now in the realm of Facebook, Instagram and other social media. One is done in the manner of art and the other is anything but. One rises above the simple recording of a likeness.

For some reason there seems to be an acceptance that every image focused on the maker ever created in the history of artistic image-making must now be thrown into this single and greatly demeaning heading.

Personally, I find the use of the word disgusting. Not because making an image of oneself is something that we should not do, but because the term seems to devalue all those images that are truly great self-portraits.

I believe it is a silly fad; a social phenomenon that will be short lived. As with much of what passes for photography these days, it has nothing to do with great image making, photography or art. It is a trend that is happening at the wrong time in history. It does nothing but produce mindless babel during a time when everyone on this planet needs to see the serious stuff.

Time will be the judge of what is considered good and what is not. The bigger problem as I see it has to do with everything out there being reduced to a massive swirl of sameness. It is rapidly becoming more and more difficult for anyone to distinguish what is important photographic work to look at.

To me, the term might as well be a four-letter word.

Read about great photographic techniques in my book Rethinking Digital Photography.

Rethinking Digital Photography – John Neel

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