WHAT IS A “SELFIE”?
Fewer and fewer people ask to have their photo taken these days — we travel fully equipped, smartphone in pocket and sometimes a “magic box” in our handbag that turns into a tripod or 360° anti-shake selfie stick. So why would we need someone to photograph us when we can do it ourselves?
That brings the question naturally: who invented the selfie?
This week, during the Festa del Cinema di Roma, the documentary I’m Curious Johnny will be screened, telling the story of photographer Jean Pigozzi — who, in the 1970s, began taking self-portraits with his Leica alongside celebrities from art, sport and entertainment.
Last week, the 72-year-old Pigozzi, in great shape, boldly stated: “I’m the inventor of the selfie!”. Looking at his black and white photos, especially the one with Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall, it’s hard to disagree.
Andy Warhol, with his Polaroid self-portraits, or artists like Cindy Sherman and Francesca Woodman, could also be considered early pioneers — exploring identity, psychology and performance through self-imagery.
The term selfie refers simply to a photographic self-portrait. It first appeared in 2002 on an Australian forum, when Nathan Hope posted a photo of his split lip after a night of partying, captioning it: “sorry about the focus, it was a selfie”.
Yet, the history of the selfie goes much further back — to 1839, when American photographer Robert Cornelius captured the first known photographic self-portrait using a daguerreotype.
The selfie truly exploded with the rise of smartphones and social media. It was officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013 — the same year it became Word of the Year. Its spread has been so significant that Italy’s Accademia della Crusca recognised it as a social and cultural phenomenon.
Through Facebook and Instagram, the selfie became a global mass practice. But the simple idea of “photographic self-portrait” no longer captures what a selfie really is.
A selfie is self-representation — a way of expressing the small narcissist inside us all. Taking one isn’t just vanity; it fulfils deep psychological needs — the “here and now” that Roland Barthes described in Camera Lucida: a proof of existence, memory, identity, and a quest for connection through likes and comments.
It also acts as a form of personal storytelling. In many of these shared stories, there’s a glimpse of us too — a sunlit moment by the BonSol sea, a Mediterranean view, perhaps holding a BonSoul souvenir.
On June 21st, we celebrate National Selfie Day — a moment “to encourage people to take selfies and share them, fostering self-expression and connection.”
What better time to share your BonSol photos and remember the many summers spent together through your selfies?
SELFIE TIPS:
- Look around before shooting — don’t lose touch with the beauty around you.
- Avoid risky selfies — no photo is worth a dangerous fall.
- Don’t overdo filters.
- Wait for the golden hour — sunrise or sunset.
- Keep your phone slightly above eye level for a flattering frame.
- Stay natural — and don’t forget to smile.
Happy Selfie Day!