The Evolution of Selfies: My Journey from Film SLR to Smartphone

‘The first selfie’ is a term that often stirs curiosity and nostalgia. Let’s dive into the history of selfies and recount my personal journey from capturing photographs on a film camera to experimenting with smartphone cameras. I’ll also share an interesting anecdote about my first ever attempt at taking a selfie with a mobile phone.

History of Selfies: The Earliest Days

The very first selfie, as we know it today, can be traced back to Louis Daguerre, a pioneer in photography. In 1839, he was the first to publish a practical photographic system, leading to the creation of the first selfies. While this was not captured with a full-fledged camera, it marks the beginning of what we call selfies today. It is believed that Louis took a self-portrait with a wooden camera resting on his lap, capturing a glimpse of himself in the mirror.

Missed Opportunities: William Henry Fox Talbot

William Henry Fox Talbot, another significant figure in the history of photography, had developed a similar system even earlier. However, unlike Daguerre, Talbot delayed the publication of his findings, allowing Daguerre to take the credit for the first published photographic system. Nonetheless, Talbot’s contributions were invaluable, and his positive unreadable images are considered a precursor to modern selfies.

The Ignored First Selfie: Joseph Niepce

Joseph Nicéphore Niépce took the first-ever photograph, but it was not a self-portrait. His photograph, View from the Window at Le Gras, required an extremely long exposure time of 8 hours and was not suitable for portraiture. However, his work marked the beginning of photography as we know it today and indirectly influenced the development of selfies.

My First Selfie: An Unforeseen Experiment

My first experience with a camera, as a teenager, was with a film SLR. I was excited to try and capture my own reflection in a mirror, thinking it would be a quick and easy project. To my disappointment, the results were less than satisfactory; the image was blurry and not at all what I had envisioned. Initially, I was quite frustrated but eventually, I let go of the idea of doing it myself. Instead, I found that handing the camera to friends for selfies worked much better.

The Birth of My First Smartphone Selfie

Capturing my first selfie with a smartphone was a different era altogether. I was in my BSc, and my new mobile, a Samsung Corby 2, had come with an innovative feature - a 2MP front-facing camera. This was uncharted territory for me. While the selfie wasn’t a masterpiece, it was a step towards a whole new way of self-expression and a significant milestone in my photography journey.

Fast forward to today, snapchat, filters, and creative filters have transformed the selfie culture into a vibrant and dynamic form of expression. It’s fascinating to see how technology has progressed and how we, as individuals, have adapted to these changes. Selfies are no longer just self-portraits; they are a collection of personal moments, shared memories, and a celebration of our uniqueness.

So, as we look back, we can proudly say that the journey from the earliest attempts at taking selfies to the modern-day smartphone era is a remarkable evolution. Whether it was using a film SLR, an old mobile phone, or the latest app on my smartphone, each experience has added to my rich photographic journey.

What was your first selfie? Share your story and how your relationship with selfies has evolved through the years.