Luminous Landscape Forum
The Art of Photography => The Coffee Corner => Topic started by: PeterAit on September 11, 2013, 09:33:04 am
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As a distinguished group of Key Opinion Leaders, I suggest that the members of the LuLa forums come together to fight the use of "selfie" to mean a self-portrait. It's a horrid word, plus it's original meaning, at least in my experience, is .... well, trying to be delicate here .... it's what a guy did, alone in his dorm room, when he was horny and couldn't get a date.
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As a distinguished group of Key Opinion Leaders, I suggest that the members of the LuLa forums come together to fight the use of "selfie" to mean a self-portrait. It's a horrid word, plus it's original meaning, at least in my experience, is .... well, trying to be delicate here .... it's what a guy did, alone in his dorm room, when he was horny and couldn't get a date.
Um... so what's wrong with snoring on your own? It's the kindest, most considerate way to sleep.
Rob C
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I don't care. Selfie is as good as any other.
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I don't care. Selfie is as good as any other.
Well, say what you like, you certainly can't beat the timing.
Rob C
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I think "selfie" is a useful word, not to be confused with "self-portrait," which is much more general. To my mind, a "selfie" is taken with the simplest of equipment, on the spur of the moment, with the intention of posting it to a "social media" site. Sort of a way to say "Look at me!" for people who have little better to say to the world.
The few "selfies" I've seen tend to be crude and ugly, and involve silly mugging for the camera.
Rembrandt made some lovely etchings of mugging self-portraits, but he didn't have either an I-phone or a Facebook page, poor guy.
I took a snapshot just a couple of days ago of someone making a selfie, out on the rocks at Halibut Point in Rockport, Massachusetts. I haven't seen the selfie that was produced, and I don't think I'd care to either.
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Oh, my god, Peter, how can you be against such a perfect little word!!!??? It is a new animal, it is not a replacement for self-portrait, nor it is used in that context.
Besides, "self-portrait" does not rhyme nearly as well with "selfish" as "selfie" does, thus perfectly reflecting the dominant theme of the the new (anti) social media subculture.
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Oh, my god, Peter, how can you be against such a perfect little word!!!??? It is a new animal, it is not a replacement for self-portrait, nor it is used in that context.
Besides, "self-portrait" does not rhyme nearly as well with "selfish" as "selfie" does, thus perfectly reflecting the dominant theme of the the new (anti) social media subculture.
And it's not in the slightest way as pretentious an expression as self-portrait!
Don't know it has much to do with selfishness, though. Maybe more to do with the lack of funds with which to pay a good photographer?
Rob C
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I think "selfie" is a great term, it perfectly conveys the futile narcissism, utter banality, and complete inconsequentiality of the act.
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I think "selfie" is a great term, it perfectly conveys the futile narcissism, utter banality, and complete inconsequentiality of the act.
+10.
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I think "selfie" is a great term, it perfectly conveys the futile narcissism, utter banality, and complete inconsequentiality of the act.
Correction: not two weeks ago, when it meant make or break that I get a new passport.
;-)
Rob C
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Correction: not two weeks ago, when it meant make or break that I get a new passport.
;-)
Rob C
Did they turn you down because you provided a selfie instead of a self-portrait?
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Peter,
Deepest apologies, but I am with the others in supporting the word selfie!
This being said, here are a few questions to stir the discussion (wild stuff!):
- Now, does a selfie also include snaps of family members or is it really just about oneself?
- Is it about the camera being used or is it about the publishing media?
Cheers,
Bernard
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As a distinguished group of Key Opinion Leaders, I suggest that the members of the LuLa forums come together to fight the use of "selfie" to mean a self-portrait. It's a horrid word, plus it's original meaning, at least in my experience, is .... well, trying to be delicate here .... it's what a guy did, alone in his dorm room, when he was horny and couldn't get a date.
Before embarking upon a task of this magnitude, I think you should practise with something simpler: sit on the beach and order the tide not to come in.
Jeremy
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I think selfie will soon give way to Twerking a selfie.
I don't mind. It's just a word.
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Did they turn you down because you provided a selfie instead of a self-portrait?
Not yet, but that may come: I had to 'selfie' because the standard sized Spanish documentation snaps that all high street businesses do with multi-shot-in-one-exposure cameras (and find profitable because of the incredible bureaucracy, paperwork and form-filling for everything) don't match the British requirements. I did my selfie on the D700... maybe it's too good?
Worse, no longer can one get one's replacement passport from the UK representatives in Madrid, one now has to send off to BELFAST! You know what it costs now, to send your passport application from Spain? £147.86! (Thanks for the link to the quid symobol!) And for a document that's one's by right.
Rob C
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I fully support selfies especially when they involve boobs :)
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Maybe you guys are right - there may well be a use for "selfie" particularly when applied to the thousands of banal photos one sees on Facebook (here I am eating a hamburger, here I am at the park, here I am taking a selfie (LOL!). You gotta love the English language!
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I fully support selfies especially when they involve boobs :)
+ +
8-)
Rob C
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- Now, does a selfie also include snaps of family members or is it really just about oneself?
- Is it about the camera being used or is it about the publishing media?
Cheers,
Bernard
Definitive answers, Bernard:
1. No, a selfie can't include family members, except as background to the photographer doing the selfie. A crude, spontaneous photo of a family member is a Familie, not a Selfie.
2. Yes, it must be a camera or cell phone held at arm's length. An 8x10" Deardorff cannot be used for a selfie, unless it is held at arm's length on a pistol grip (no tripod allowed.)
Any further questions?
Cheers,
Eric
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Definitive answers, Bernard:
1. No, a selfie can't include family members, except as background to the photographer doing the selfie. A crude, spontaneous photo of a family member is a Familie, not a Selfie.
2. Yes, it must be a camera or cell phone held at arm's length. An 8x10" Deardorff cannot be used for a selfie, unless it is held at arm's length on a pistol grip (no tripod allowed.)
Thanks Eric, this is crystal clear.
Now, would you be interested in joining me to create a Facebook group focused on 8x10 handheld selfies? I may have to add at a later stage Betterlight scans also if that is OK?
Cheers,
Bernard
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I fully support selfies especially when they involve boobs :)
Oh man, this is just so good. Second time this week I have to dry off my keyboard.
Harald
PS: just consider to use a ruggedized keyboard for reading this forum...
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Thanks Eric, this is crystal clear.
Now, would you be interested in joining me to create a Facebook group focused on 8x10 handheld selfies? I may have to add at a later stage Betterlight scans also if that is OK?
Cheers,
Bernard
That's a good idea, Bernard. But first we need to agree on some ground rules. I have one friend who shoots nothing but an 11x14, so I wonder if those should also be allowed in this group? I'll have to ask him how many selfies he's done.
Cheers,
Eric
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"Selfie" is a good word for those snaps of former candidate Anthony Wiener.
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"Selfie" is a good word for those snaps of former candidate Anthony Wiener.
+1.
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I think "selfie" is a great term, it perfectly conveys the futile narcissism, utter banality, and complete inconsequentiality of the act.
That is well said.
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"Selfie" is a good word for those snaps of former candidate Anthony Wiener.
That's the second reference to him today; who is he?
Rob C
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That's the second reference to him today; who is he?
He's another in a long line of politicians (American in this case) who made a fool of himself on "social media" by sending "selfie" pictures of his nether regions (to a woman of interest to him, if I remember right) and got caught. He did the usual public apology press conference thing, then got caught doing it all again.
Predictably, the coincidence of his acts and loosely appropriate last name were fodder for comedians. And who can blame them. He recently ran for mayor of New York but dropped out of the election.
Don't worry about having missed the whole story, someone else will do something similar soon.
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He's another in a long line of politicians (American in this case) who made a fool of himself on "social media" by sending "selfie" pictures of his nether regions (to a woman of interest to him, if I remember right) and got caught. He did the usual public apology press conference thing, then got caught doing it all again.
Predictably, the coincidence of his acts and loosely appropriate last name were fodder for comedians. And who can blame them. He recently ran for mayor of New York but dropped out of the election.
Don't worry about having missed the whole story, someone else will do something similar soon.
Good grief! Have these people no sense of self-preservation? (No refence to Vienna.) I mean, had he been fifteen and still at school you might, just might excuse his being so naïve...
I wouldn't vote for him.
;-)
Rob C
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And, for a good measure, he is dragging his beautiful and much smarter wife into the gutter with him. She also happens to be a top aide to Hillary Clinton (when Hillary was in the State Department).
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And, for a good measure, he is dragging his beautiful and much smarter wife into the gutter with him. She also happens to be a top aide to Hillary Clinton (when Hillary was in the State Department).
Did he send her a 'selfie' too?
If they are both so busy, perhaps it's the only way left to retain a loving relationship... You see? There is always a positive side in life, even when you might fear that there is not.
;-)
Rob C
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Did he send her a 'selfie' too?
No. My understanding is he only sent selfies to women he had never met in person.
(I do think he has met his wife in person.)
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No. My understanding is he only sent selfies to women he had never met in person.
(I do think he has met his wife in person.)
In politics, you can depend on nothing. Any proof, even, of consummation? Selfies get everywhere!
Rob C
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That's a good idea, Bernard. But first we need to agree on some ground rules. I have one friend who shoots nothing but an 11x14, so I wonder if those should also be allowed in this group? I'll have to ask him how many selfies he's done.
Of course Eric, all ULF is most welcome!
Cheers,
Bernard