History of selfie & self portrait - Essay Example

History of Selfie and Self-Portrait History of Selfie Selfie relates to self-shot photo mostly taken using a mobile phone ora hand held camera and posted online on different social media sites including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter1. The first selfie taken resulted from use of a self-timer that entailed employed ancient camera photography. However, due to technological advancements relating to the introduction of contemporary Smartphones and portable handheld cameras, individuals could take selfies at arm-length.

In addition, introduction of contemporary android software applications that supports selfie programs have been imperative in improvising arm-length snapshots using Smartphone or digital cameras2. In photography history, the ancient and initial portrait of Robert Cornelius taken in 1839 outside his store remains as the first selfie ever photographed. Robert Cornelius portrait taken in Philadelphia remained indispensable in modern studies and development of selfie3. Robert processed his selfies using chemical knowledge and photography techniques.

As a renowned photographer and chemist, Robert made his selfie by placing film removed from the lens cap on camera. Robert then waited for a minute before the camera before processing his final picture using chemicals. Robert’s photo remained as the first ever selfie in history. It is imperative to understand that making ancient selfie involved tedious and time-consuming procedures compared to contemporary technology that takes photos at a glance Remarkably, era of selfie developed proportionately with advancements in photography technology and introduction of modern applications.

It is imperative that introduction of portable Kodak camera in the market spurred revolution in selfie and international spread of photography. Portable Kodak camera box technology, introduced in 1900 also promoted photographic self-portraiture. It is interesting that portable Kodak camera box technology that hugely spurred selfie development involved use of a mirror and a stabilized camera on tripod stand. In enabling production of clear and admirable selfie, photographers framed viewfinder of the camera on box top.

It is imperious that in 1914, Russian Grand Duchess teenage called Anastacia Nikolaevna became the first person to use Kodak Camera box in taking selfie. It is vital that technological advancements in social media spurred development and emergence of modern selfies. Selfie usage first appeared on Flickr in 2004 and later advanced when Myspace established programs for sharing photos within social platforms in 2006. In addition, emergence of Facebook resulted into global spread of selfies within social media.

The consequent, global development in selfie usage within social platforms resulted from the establishment of high-quality profiles for sharing experience. Moreover, introduction of iPhone 4 possessing front facing camera into the market resulted into further growth in selfies usage. IPhone 4 enabled its users to reaffirm their posture and take quality snap-shots. Furthermore, development of hash tags and filters by Instagram in 2011 allowed editing of contrast, tone, and color on photos augmenting the growth of selfies.

ABC online forum led to the first use of selfie word in communication media. During the forum in September 13, 2002, Nathan Hopey, used selfie when elaborating how sustained stiches after having fallen when drunk. Due to the incident, Nathan had to take a self-photograph that its quality of the focus depicted a selfie4. A year later, in November 2013, the Oxford English Dictionary announced that the word selfie increased in usage by 17,000 percent and subsequently declared it as word of the year.

Subsequently, Oxford added selfie to the Oxford English Dictionary. It is imperious to comprehend that the most tweeted selfie in history is Ellen Degeneres’s selfie taken in February 2014 at Oscar awards using a Samsung phone. Ellen Degeneres’s selfie garnered 37 million tweets and remained considered to have a media value of 800 million dollars5. Having augmented in popularity and use over the years, Selfies have become addictive with many people including the U.S. President Barrack Obama taking a selfie at Nelson Mandelas memorial service.

However, various instances have arisen where selfies becomes greatly condemned as detailed by Matrine Julie6. Therefore, social media should allow for growth and development of the selfie as a medium of communication and self-representation resulting in the growth of the selfie from 1839 to 2014 where it has global proportions7. The history of the selfie clearly demonstrates use of a selfie as a medium of visual communication and a piece of art as depicted by ability to communicate with people’s emotions.

Painters who drew Self-portraits of themselves It is imperative that the most intimate personal legacy of artists’ remains intrigued in their self-portraits that is essential in self-advertisement8. Effective application of drawing and painting techniques employing pencil, ink, or charcoal on canvas or paper clearly reflect the true image of artist. Ancient painters who designed self-portraits included Sir Peter Lely, Mary Beale, Godfrey Kneller, and George Romney among many others9. George Romney, born in Lancashire, painted his self-portrait that have received criticism in 1782 on an oil canvas.

In his portrait, Romney painted himself in a relaxed posture depicting modern selfie and trends in photography. Sir Godfrey Kneller painted his self-portrait in 1706 on a canvas. The Braque portrait depicted Kneller dressed in full wig besides his house in Whittton Hall. His self-portrait depicts self-confidence and esteem that accompanies most artists and celebrities’ selfies in contemporary photography. Mary Beale, an English artist in the seventeenth century painted her portraits as a mother.

She used the self-portraits to display her inherent beauty and exemplary artistry. Her brilliant skills in painting were imperative in encouraging dominance of female figures within certain professions. Sir Peter Lely who lived between 1618 and 1680 depicted artistic legacy using self-portraits. Lely who was a great painter designed his memorable self-portrait in 1660 on similar canvas. Lely’s self-portrait depicts level of confidence and impression normally shown by most selfies in contemporary photography.

It is imperative to understand that the aforementioned examples of self-portraits designed by ancient painters reflects on modern styles of photography. Ancient artistic purposely painted their self-portrait as legacy and remembrance of their work. Similarly, modern society uses selfies to act as reminiscence of previous memories or life occasions. It is indispensable that the introduction of modern selfie resulted from self-portraits techniques in ancient days. Selfie acts as an art through which the society displays their artistry and nature.

Women, for instance, use the advent of Smartphone technology to display their beauty and appearance in social media through selfies. They compete on levels of beauty and posture through selfies taken in modern lifestyle. In addition, selfies represents a form of language used by various social groups to share their pictures and show economic status within the society.Conclusion Emergence of modern selfie and photography styles resulted from ancient painting and artistry. Ancient painters designed their self-portraits that acted as legacy, public remembrance and self-representation.

Advent of ancient self-portrait coupled with advancement in technology including introduction of Kodak camera and smartphones revolutionized photography resulting into growth of selfies. Presently, society employs selfies as a medium of social communication and advertisement. It is imperative that selfies have developed into a social hub through which society interacts and share their lifetime moments through pictures.Bibliography Babette Bohn and James M. Saslow, A Companion to Renaissance and Baroque Art (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2013).

Bennett, Shea. “A brief History of the Selfie”. Inforgraphic, July 10, 2014. Web. Accessed on November 03, 2014 from < http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/first-ever-selfie-history_b58436> Einav, Gali. The New World of Transitioned Media. New York: Springer, 2012.Karl, Kruszelnicki. “A brief history of the selfie”. ABC Science, 12 August 2014. Web. Accessed on November 03, 2014 from < http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2014/08/12/4065062.htm> Mastrine, Julie. Make Your Own Sandwich.

New York: Thought Catalog, 2012 National Portrait Gallery. Self-portraits from C17th to C21st. Web. November 9, 2014. Accessed from http://www.npg.org.uk/assets/files/pdf/learning/NPG_17-21C_portraits.pdf Rettberg Jill Walker, Seeing Ourselves Through Technology: How We Use Selfies, Blogs and Wearable Devices to See and Shape Ourselves. (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014), 12.Saltz, Jerry. Art at Arm’s Length: A History of the Selfie. January 27, 2014. Web. Accessed on November 03, 2014 from Varda Konstam, Emerging and Young Adulthood: Multiple Perspectives, Diverse Narratives (New York: Springer Science & Business Media, 2012).