Selfie Sticks? – I Wouldn’t Be Seen Dead With One! (Part 1)

Well that is what I thought originally.

You’re probably like me and have got annoyed at people [usually Gen X and Y] who constantly wave their selfie sticks around and put themselves into the most obtrusive positions to ensure they can take a personal photo on their smartphone with the scenery in the background. Who in their right mind would impose that on people who are wanting to enjoy the scenery too?

Recently my wife Robyn and I were fortunate enough to have a stopover in Shanghai for 3 days on our way to Europe. One of the highlights was an all-day escorted tour.
The sights we saw over the day were amazing as there is so much to appreciate in that enormous city.
Naturally we all took our fair share of photos but the iPhone 6S was the most convenient to use for me.
During the day I noticed Lisa, one of the others on the tour, using her selfie stick to take photos. My first impression was not favourable as I assumed she was angling to get good shots of scenes with herself in the foreground.

I was mistaken.

She used it as an extension to her smartphone and during the day I didn’t see her take one selfie – all of her shots were facing outwards. What started to impress me was by using the extension of the telescope arm she was able to get her phone above the crowds [she was only 5 feet tall] and take clear uninterrupted shots without impinging on anyone’s space. Further her smartphone was stable as she was able to hold the handle with the shutter release in one hand and steady the extension with the other.

I was getting a little envious with the ease she was able to take shots. I, on the other hand, had to resort to contorting myself to get into the correct position and then was still limited by the fact I needed both hands on the iPhone case with a finger poised over the button. This is the reason so many of the photos I took that day were on a slight angle. I know that can be fixed with editing but did I really need to put up with that? NO!

Over the course of the day we chatted about the selfie stick and as I was ready to buy one at the first opportunity, Lisa gave me some good advice which I can now pass on.

Rule number one ALWAYS test the selfie stick with your Smartphone before you pay for it.

Rule number two. ALWAYS buy two. Her rationale was it so easy for the extension to get slightly bent.

That evening Robyn and I were having a beer at a local bar next to one of the larger shopping areas. It was my intention to go out and find a shop and buy a selfie stick for tomorrow’s adventures. Within 2 minutes of sitting down we were approached by a young man wanting to sell me…….. a selfie stick!! I couldn’t believe it.

“How much?” I asked.
“50 Yuan” he replied.
“I’ll buy 2 off you for 75 Yuan”.
Eventually he agreed but over the following 2 -3 minutes as I tested both he tried to sell me all manner of other items like “Genuine Fake Mont Blanc pens”!! I guess he was trying to make up some ground on the bargain I got.

Over the following 3 weeks whilst on tour just one of those selfie sticks aided me in taking over 3,000 photos from all angles, many I would have unable to manufacture had it not been for that selfie stick.

Watch this space for what I did with those photos and some selfie stick hints.

by Alex Sharp, Age Hacker

Do you use a selfie stick? If not, would you consider using one? Let us know your thoughts on selfies and selfie sticks in the comments section below.