How to Take a Selfie... By Rankin
As part of our adam&eveDDB 'How To' guest edit issue, photographer Rankin deconstructs the selfie.
Disclaimer: I should get one thing straight up front: I hate selfies. Sorry guys. That’s not to say I’m not embracing this challenge, though. I love a good rant.
Facts of life:
1. People hate having their photograph taken.
2. People love taking photos of themselves.
3. People are shit at taking photos of themselves.
As a photographer, I live in strange times. People are more engaged in photography than ever; everyone has a camera in their pocket. Meanwhile, as an industry, audiences are getting savvier by the day. And you are all meeting that challenge in wonderfully creative ways.
shots 165, the adam&eveDDB guest edited 'How To' issue, from which this article from Rankin originates.
Yet, selfies are our great reducer. They are an anomaly, a glitch in the system. Somehow we got lost. And now we need to catch up. It’s time to upgrade the system. Filter out the crap. Step away from the sea of homogeneity. This inalienable, unexplainable phenomenon of the modern world can stand for individualism and expressionism. It just needs a reboot.
Turn it off and on again.
But I guess that isn’t why you’re reading this. You’re after a tip or two. So, for what it’s worth, here goes:
#please leave your ego at the door.
#photography is about capturing memories, not selling yourself.
#throw out everything that everyone else is doing: turn the phone sideways, use interesting light, take a photo of your toe.
#still stumped? Use a soft light, hold the camera above your head and look through the camera, not at it.
#don’t be afraid to show your personality. Be honest and candid.
I’ll put my money where my mouth is. Here’s me. This morning. The same as every morning. #noretouching
Why’s it so small, you ask? What is this, fucking Spinal Tap? Well, look at it! #fuglynotselfie
{NB: If all else fails: buy a photo booth, whack a wind machine in it, sit back and enjoy the flight. That’s what I did.}
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- Agency adam&eveDDB
- Photographer Rankin
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