'Grinning' Obama's selfie at Mandela memorial goes viral

Johannesburg: US President Barack Obama may have moved the masses attending Nelson Mandela's memorial service with his stirring eulogy, but it was his grinning "selfie" with the Danish and British premiers that set social networks abuzz.

In a candid moment captured by AFP photographer Roberto Schmidt, Denmark's Helle Thorning-Schmidt can be seen holding up her smartphone, with Obama lending a helping hand, as they pose for a picture with David Cameron, all three of them smiling broadly in their seats at Soweto's World Cup stadium.

First Lady Michelle Obama, sitting to the left of her husband, does not join in with the lightheartedness, keeping her eyes firmly trained on the podium where world leaders were paying tribute to South Africa's anti-apartheid hero Mandela, who died Thursday aged 95.

The so-called selfie - short for self-portrait - was quickly picked up by major international news outlets and went viral on social media sites, with many questioning whether the moment of mirth was appropriate for the occasion.

"There should be a moratorium on 'selfies' during memorials and funerals, no?" tweeted @JeffryHalverson. "Is This The Most Important Selfie Of 2013?" headlined the US-based social news website Buzzfeed, noting that Michelle Obama seemed "not amused" by the impromptu photoshoot.

A photo of the leaders photographing themselves was featured on the front pages of British media such as The Times, The Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mirror.

In the United States, the Washington Post also ran the photo of the trio on its website in a story on that incident and Obama shaking hands at the service with Cuban leader Raul Castro. It was not on the front page but rather in the Politics section. It noted the viral trajectory of the photo.

"All of it serves as a reminder - as if we needed one - that even the best-laid plans of politicians tend to veer wildly off course in this age of social media," the Post story said. Cameron's Downing Street office said it had "no comment" on the photo, while the White House also made no comment. There was no immediate reaction from Copenhagen. The act of taking selfies has become increasingly popular in recent years.

The word itself was named word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries. A selfie is defined as "a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website".

The AFP photographer who captured the leaders in their group shot said his picture showed the dignitaries in a rare unscripted moment.

"It was interesting to see politicians in a human light because usually when we see them it is in such a controlled environment. Maybe this would not be such an issue if we, as the press, would have more access to dignitaries and be able to show they are human as the rest of us," he said. 

Next: Kenyan senator's Mandela photoshop gamble busted

Kenyan senator's Mandela photoshop gamble busted

Melbourne: Kenyan politician Mike Sonko's photoshop gamble has been busted with mixed reactions pouring in on social networks for his attempt to morph heavyweight boxing champion Muhammed Ali who was pictured with Nelson Mandela.

The Senator for Nairobi posted a photo of himself in the arms of Mandela on his Facebook page, but because of dodgy pixilation Internet sleuths quickly found the original image, Stuff.co.nz reports.

Both the images went viral across social networks, with some commentators calling Sonko an attention-seeker and disrespectful, while others admiring his creativity and character.

Sonko, it seems, did not wanted to miss out on a photo opportunity with the anti-apartheid hero, while other heads of states, celebrities and members of the public had been showing off pictures with the former South African leader since his death on December 5.