Sticks have been made useful tools to humans since the beginning of time, from creating fire, traversing new territories to writing. In this modern day and age, the selfie stick has proven to be useful in helping our cameras capture all those beautiful moments in our lives.
What It Is
This particular tool is a lighter and more portable version of a monopod, mainly used to help take selfies or self-portrait photographs by extending the camera or phone beyond normal arm reaches. Typically extendable, there is a handle on one end and an adjustable clamp on the other to hold the phone or camera in place. They have actually been around since the 1990s, but it’s only with the need to share photos of everything we eat and do on multiple social networks have they become commonplace in today’s increasingly tech-savvy world.
A Traveller’s BFF
Whether it is taking a huge group photo, snapping a selfie at a tourist attraction, beach or mountain top, or showing off all your gorgeous getups, it is now possible to take selfies anywhere, even at places that was thought to be impossible to. With its lightweight structure, portability and cheap price, they won’t burn holes in wallets or take up too much space in bags, making them a much-needed item for solo travellers and eliminating the need to hand over your smartphone or camera to a total stranger to help you get a great shot of yourself. It’s no wonder that this device was named one of TIME magazine’s 25 Best Inventions of 2014.
Narcissistic(k)?
Alas, with the fast and furious rise of the selfie stick, there has also been significant intolerance to the selfie stick, or “wand of narcissism”, as it’s been dubbed on Twitter and other popular news media. It had already been banned in famous museums around the world, such as the Smithsonian Museum and Metropolitan Museum of Art, following complaints from other visitors who wished to view artworks in peace without worrying about getting hit on the head with a selfie stick. Even popular annual music festivals such as Coachella and Lollapalooza have released statements announcing the ban. And rightfully so, otherwise the audience would not be able to enjoy music performances properly without having their views obstructed, and again, worry about getting bonked on the head with a selfie stick. Theme parks have also cracked down the use of them on rides, restricting guests to keep them stored safely in their bags during rides to prevent accidents.
Love them or hate them, we cannot escape them wherever we go. While it may be an awesome tool to use to help in photography, if it endangers the safety of the user as well as others, then it’s best to put that stick away. Travellers should also remember that although it’s a prerequisite to take “proof shots” at touristy places, what is more important than validation of travels is experiencing the culture and sights.
What do you think of the selfie stick? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!