Cat Selfies & Important Life Moments
SPEAK TO THE PAW! I’M SLEEPING!
Newborns, toddlers and young elementary school children generally don’t give too much grief when it comes to having their picture taken (ie, ever had a newborn give you the stink eye and flip you the bird to prevent you from taking a picture?).
Unruly hair, sticky faces, clothes not fitting or grass stained knees didn’t appear to bother them. Sure, go ahead and take my picture, I don’t care, they seem to say. Confidence? Or just a “Meh” who cares? Pets (cats in particular) seem to always have that aloof attitude. Like a “Talk to my butt”.
Of course as we age we begin to be aware that yes our appearance matters not only to ourselves but how we present ourselves to the world. But why does that have to affect the swagger and confidence we generally had as children?
PHOTOGRAPHER or SUBJECT
In which camp do you mostly find yourself?
I was recently trying to organize some family photos and discovered that I really don’t like having my picture taken. Oh yes, there were pictures but I was usually more comfortable being the photographer rather than being the photographee (I know, I know, it’s not a word but I think it should be).
Why? Was I afraid I wouldn’t look good enough? Was my hair messy that day? No makeup? Clothes didn’t quite make the mark? Did I think I was overweight? Did I think I had spinach in my teeth?
I looked at some pictures of myself and thought I was either angry, constipated or both! No, seriously! Metamucil and a good therapist could probably have helped a lot.
In any case, these pictures reflected ALL the facets of my life, not just the perfectly posed ones created by a professional photographer. Although I wished I could have afforded more of the latter just so I could say, yes, that’s what I really look like dressed up, relaxed and not constipated!
Life is full of messy, dirty, unprepared, silly moments that will be gone forever unless you can take a photograph.
IMPORTANCE of PHOTOS
When looking at all the photos you’ve taken, they can certainly remind you of good days, funny experiences, etc. but can also be reminders of sad events, or the people in the pictures may have passed on. Similar to hearing your favorite song, they can help the viewer to actually remember more than just the image. They can instill the viewer with feelings that can run the gamut from laughter, sadness and every emotion in between. Was it a beach photo? Can you remember the feeling of the sun on your face or hear the sound of the waves? Perhaps it was a picnic and you can remember the shrieks of laughter from your children.
Looking at the pictures from our own small, modest wedding, I not only see myself looking as radiant as I could be and my spouse handsome as ever, it also reminded me that the summer we got married was one of the hottest, driest summers with practically no rain. The grass went dormant and was so yellow and dry it actually crackled as we walked on it. Kind of what I imagine would happen if we could walk through a giant bowl of dry Rice Krispies!
I also remembered that on our way to the reception we passed by a garage sale in the country side. We toyed with the idea of stopping and buying something! Oh how I wish we had done that and got a photo!
NOSTALGIA
I believe that most people are nostalgic. When I was young (many, many years ago) I clearly recall my Granny saying, “Why when I was a little whipper-snapper, I remember….blah, blah, blah”. If only she had photos of that time. There may be picture around hiding in some relative’s forgotten picture album/photo box, but unfortunately I don’t have any pictures of my Granny’s family when she was young. It’s likely they couldn’t afford such luxuries as owing a camera let alone pay someone else to have their picture taken. So we were left with what she could remember and even then I did not write down any of her stories.
Yes, I think most people would like to have a reminder of days gone by.
As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words”.
Even those geeky elementary school pictures where my hair either looked like I had taken a flat iron to it and flattened it down with goop, or I had a really (and I mean REALLY!) bad home perm done. I looked like I had been struck by lightning! But, they are fun to look at and I can now look back and laugh at myself (although at the time I would have been happy to have a giant crater open up and swallow me whole!).
We have come so far from the early days of photography. Just take a look at the grainy, black and white photos and even the color ones from your youth. Sure, they weren’t professional, but they are special moments frozen in time. Could you remember them all without a photo? Not likely unless you have a photographic memory (or “Eidetic” if you want to be technical). Even then, you wouldn’t be able to share these precious memories with anyone else.
BRIEF HISTORY of the CAMERA
When photography was in its infancy, equipment was not only bulky and hard to handle, not everyone could afford to buy them or have the money to have their picture taken. It wasn’t until the mid-1950s when cameras were made available at a reasonable price to the general public.
There were several scientists who experimented with light passing through a small hole, but it wasn’t until the 11th century when Alhazen (or Ibn al-Haytham) actually created the camera obscura. He used candles and described how the image is formed by rays of light travelling in straight lines.
He was a mathematician, astronomer, and physicist and is often referred to as “the father of modern optics”; he made significant contributions to the principles of optics and visual perception in particular. Wikipedia
Born: July 1, 965 AD, Basrah, Iraq
Died: March 6, 1040 (age 74 years), Cairo, Egypt
Information & Image from www.camera-obscura.co.uk
It wasn’t until 1816 when Joseph Nicéphore Niépce found a way to actually record the image created by the camera obscura. He named his method heliography, which translates as “sun drawing”.
CELL PHONE or CAMERA?
While smartphones are ubiquitous among young Canadians (just take a look around when you’re out and about) they are also rising fast with seniors. According to Statistics Canada,
“In 2018, four in five Canadians (80%) owned a smartphone. By 2020, this share had risen to 84%, with much of that growth occurring among seniors.”
Cell phones these days can take amazing photos and while you may not have the most recent version, any picture you take is worthwhile.
In the end though, it really doesn’t matter what equipment you use to capture those memories. On one end there are the relatively lower cost point and shoot cameras, (including your smartphone, tablet or even your laptop has one).
There are still disposable cameras, instant cameras, 35mm and there are now DSLR cameras that have both an automatic setting or manual if you are willing to put forth the work in learning a new skill.
For myself, I am currently more than satisfied with my cell phone pictures. I am not a professional nor will ever be at this stage in my life. But, now that I am fully retired I may just take my DSLR camera out of storage and see what I can do with it.
PICTURE PERFECT
We have been so bombarded with social media (Internet, Magazines, and Newspapers) that make you think the perfect person in the picture ALWAYS looks that way. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Some (if not most) of these photos have been altered using Photoshop and also AI (Artificial Intelligence). Remember that publishers are trying to get you to buy something and so their pictures must reflect what they deem to be the perfect person even if they have to manipulate them.
Granted there are some people who are photogenic and will always look good in any picture taken of them.
I am sadly not one of those people but the older I get the more comfortable I am becoming with myself and this reflects I think in pictures of myself and am trying my hardest not to get so upset if I think a my picture didn’t turn out.
Most of us are not Actors, Models or the wealthy who have access to everything from personal workout coaches, hairstylists, to cosmetic surgery to help them look their best. Do they actually look like this 24/7? The Paparazzi would beg to differ as they are continually capturing their images looking not so great.
TAKE YOUR OWN PICTURE
OUR CAT’S FIRST SELFIE!
Digital cameras are great for you to practice taking selfies if you’d like to learn how to relax in front of the camera! Take as many as you want to help yourself look more relaxed. If you don’t like it, just delete it and try again. You will soon discover the way you smile, pose, turn your head can help or hinder your photograph. This way, you’ll be more than prepared when someone comes to take your picture! Granted most of us will not look like models but we’ll be able to present to the world our true selves to the best of our abilities.
CELEBRATE THE REAL YOU!
But, don’t let all this talk of practicing with selfies prevent you from having someone else take spontaneous, even foolish pictures of yourself! This is life! Not a fashion photoshoot!
There is a Youtube video that you should look at. It shows a birthday party for a 102 year old Louise Bonito attempting to blow out her candles. She blows so hard that her false teeth land right on the table. The hilarity that ensues from everyone, even Grandma, is a sight to behold! The video is a precious keepsake.
I have come to the conclusion that yes, I should continue to take pictures of everyone and everything I can, but I should also not be afraid to have my picture taken even when I am not “picture perfect”.
You are unique! No one else in the world is exactly like you!
So celebrate this and take your cell phone out now and take that selfie! Or better yet, get someone else to take your picture and try to make it the silliest picture ever! You won’t regret it.
Just check for spinach between your teeth first! Or if it’s the goofy one you’re aiming for, leave the spinach in, put on a wig and Groucho Marx glasses and put a cigar in your mouth!
Every picture taken counts!