Once upon a time, in 1910, the world of photography was still bound by the heavy apparatus of large cameras and tripods, a far cry from the portable, casual devices of today. But on a crisp winter day in a flowing field, a young woman named Hannah stood behind a large wooden 19th-century film camera, exploring the latest trends in the aesthetics fashion movement. Hannah had no idea she was on the verge of creating something totally new to the world.
The first selfie.
The camera's shutter was the lens cap. The photographer would remove the cap at count to make the perfect exposure. Long exposure times required the subject to remain completely still.
Shot after shot, Hannah carefully composed image after image of our model, Caroline, seated in a wooden chair. Caroline was open to all of Hannah’s directions and gained more confidence with every open and close of the lens.
19th Century 5 X 7 wooden bellowed view camera.
The aesthetic movement in fashion emphasized personal expression and individuality. It's based on the idea that beauty is a subjective concept and that people should experiment with different styles. Aesthetic dress was often brightly colored with lavishly trim. Aesthetic dress was free-flowing and uncorseted, and rejected the use of bustles and layers of petticoats.
Hannah was no stranger to photography. She worked as an assistant in a local studio, learning the ropes from a brilliant image maker and mentor, a seasoned photographer specializing in high-end portraits. But Hannah had a different vision. She longed to capture the world through her own eyes, not just as an observer behind the lens. It was on this very day that lightning struck with a fierce epiphany inside Hannah’s mind—yes, friends, it was the ‘what if’ of all 'what ifs.'
Kodak No. 1A Pocket Autographic handheld camera...
Hannah pulled out her newly purchased roll film camera—a Kodak No. 1A Pocket Autographic handheld camera, the latest marvel of technology at the time. She was amazed by the idea of holding a camera in her hand without a tripod. She could move around quickly and capture images like never before. This part would have been a great story to tell as a stand-alone, but we have more tale to tell.
...now, she wanted to capture something authentic, something alive, and maybe this new technology in her hands was just the ticket.
Aesthetic dress was free-flowing and un-corseted, and rejected the use of bustles and layers of petticoats.
Caroline was open to all of Hannah’s directions, and she gained more and more confidence with every open and close of the lens.
With this new camera and super fast film, Hannah could move all around her subject quickly—it was awesome.
On many occasions, Hannah had witnessed her mentor position himself in front of the large mirror with a bulky camera pointed at himself to make a self-portrait. She had seen many sitters pose with stiff smiles for what seemed like forever; now, she wanted to capture something authentic, something alive, and maybe this new technology in her hands was just the ticket. At that very moment, while using this new wonder held in her hand, the big idea of all big ideas hit her like a sledgehammer right between the eyes.
...the big idea of all big ideas hit her like a sledgehammer right between the eyes.
And just like that, she turned the handheld camera around and held it away from her face. Her fingers trembling, she found the shutter button, a small yet precise motion. Caroline watched on with curiosity, her eyes wide with wonder, the soft light of the field framing her portrait. What the heck was Hannah doing?
Her fingers trembling, she found the shutter button, a small yet precise motion.
With a soft click, the moment was frozen. It wasn’t a formal portrait but something more intimate—a selfie, though that term had yet to be born. As simple as grape jelly, the first ever real selfie ever made was made.
It wasn’t a formal portrait but something more intimate...
As simple as grape jelly, the first ever real selfie ever made was made.
Little did Hannah and Caroline know at the time that this spontaneous act, taken in a world still bound by tradition, would mark the dawn of a new kind of self-expression that would reverberate across generations to come. Fantastical, I know, but super-duper cool all the same.
Later that day, Hannah coined a phrase, calling it a “Handheldie”—time would make the necessary corrections.
There you have it. Get Out There! Paint something. Join something. Take that class. Coin a phrase. Do something. Do anything. What one person can do, another can do. That sunken sofa will be fine without you. Crawl out and live your dream—time's a wastin' and running out!
the photographer played by hannah politte
the model played by caroline martin
hair by sarah politte
makeup by hannah politte
assisted by keely hawkins
pics & words t. smugala
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