Poses & Posers
Picture this!
When you travel a lot, you see trends on a global scale. The one that stands out for me at the moment is people taking photos of world-famous tourist attractions but blocking a good portion of the image with their own head. You’ve got it – the selfie!
A few years ago, as the phenomenon picked up someone introduced the selfie stick for our selfie schtick. So, it’s not new, it’s not going away, but it seems to be at another level right now.
I do it myself every once in a while, but only because you the reader occasionally suggest (or beg) to see my big melon resting gently on the backrest of a comfy inflatable pool float, buoyantly hoisting an enhanced barley beverage in an insulated sleeve. My backdrops may not be remarkable heritage sites but there is nearly constantly a body of water involved and almost always a smile.
I used to joke about the young ladies on the beach in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua (beerfloat.calm central) standing at the water’s edge with one bent knee, leg forward, on toe, with a three-quarter shoulder twist but face full on and hair blowing back with the wind, visage toward the lens held by their companion, friend or family member. An hour walk would easily offer up half a dozen of these stances. That pose was so popular even animals started copying it.
However, that pose was so 2024!
When 2025 rolled around, influencers were suggesting a new posture and a pout was added, which may also account for all the collagen ‘lip jobs’ which are so blatantly obvious, they remind me of an African tribe who would insert ever larger plates under their lips to show them off in a big way.
This year, the image of choice is all about a high angle looking down at your countenance. Perhaps this will eliminate the possibility of people mentioning they can’t see what is hidden behind you? So, get your hands in the air everybody and tilt your face up to the camera!
It is not just selfies. There are also the ‘usie’ and ‘groufie’ options and various clique terminologies depending upon whether the presence of the photographer is included or you had someone such as a waiter take the shot. These include, ‘wefie’, ‘selvie’, ‘grelfie’ or the more specific ‘twofie’, ‘threefie’, well you get the picture (or at least your followers do).
Whatever the case, it is all part of the me, me, me, me, me generation! The need to be ‘seen’ and more importantly, ‘Liked’!
Back in Toronto in the fall of 2025, I saw a very attractive young woman setting up her phone on top a tripod and then proceeding to frame her shot. I was cycling past, so I didn’t see what was next, but I presumed she is or is attempting to become an influencer.
It just seems like such a lot of work trying to make yourself popular. I guess if you can generate an income from it then it’s not a bad lifestyle, but we certainly can’t all be influencers.
The other day while quenching my thirst at a local beach establishment here on Ko Samet in Thailand, I saw what appeared to be a young Japanese couple spend ten minutes setting up a single photo which they weren’t happy with, so they shifted their position to try it all again. After going through a variety of poses together and each separately, they seemed satisfied and went on their way. At no time did I see them sit down to relax or take in the moment of where they were. They were on a mission. Perhaps they had been there early and said to each other, “Let’s go back there and set up some lasting memory images”, or perhaps they had read about where the best spot to take selfies on the island is and had gone there for that specific purpose and once the ‘job’ was done they were on their way to the next location to capture their next artificial memories. I didn’t see them take any photos which didn’t include one of them in the frame. The pleasure will come after posting, with all the ‘thumbs up’ and ‘hearts’ they receive gratifying their needs like a junkie getting a fix. The “You two look beautiful!”, comments will be orgasmic.
Further along in my saunter down the coast, on a busier beach, I witnessed a family, going through a series of poses in their matching uniforms with mama opting out to be the ‘official photographer’.
This was actually a very pleasant sight and one I’m sure those children will look back upon as a great vacation. One of their captured moments was a video sequence with them all walking towards the camera. I have seen this a lot recently and again I am led to believe someone is out there giving instructions as to where and how to procure these ‘stand out from the crowd’ post-able images. Problem is, everyone is doing it now!
Venues are certainly not trying to curtail this activity. Many promote it with frames which posers can stand within to be captured and if the business creating the motif is smart, they are adding their company name and contact info to the frame so every viewer will see where this ‘picture perfect’ opportunity took place.
Cities have been doing it for many years with the giant ’city name signs’ in which multiple people can strike a pose within the enormous letters. Now every little town has a marquee spot for capturing an ‘all-time life moment’, at least until you get to the next ‘post-able location.’
Just a couple of weeks ago while in the historic souq market areas of Dubai I was not shocked to see full on burka selfies. It’s all in the eyes!
Hopefully schools have started teaching ‘How To Selfie” so everyone knows the guidelines.
I wouldn’t want to see it get to extremes such as a bride who wants ‘picture perfection’ on her special day who is forcing all her guests into various poses as she feeds her ‘altar ego’!
Of course, she’ll be divorced two years later anyway and will be asking everyone on her side of the family to delete the whole thousand image catalogue.
Hair and make up are ready!
Is my lighting okay?
Corliss
P.S. We are on Insta
P.P.S. We are on The Gram (psst, it’s the same thing)
P.P.P.S. If you want to share your pics with us then go to our Floaters Fotos page!
Post post post postscript. Just heart, thumb up, star, share, like us!!! (Or post a selfie with our website in the background?)
beerfloat.calm = beerfloat.net not beerfloat.com
