Picture this: You’re on a dream vacation, the city skyline is sparkling behind you, and you want to capture the moment with your loved one.

Who do you hand your phone to—a fresh-faced Gen Z, or a seasoned Gen Xer? As it turns out, your answer might just determine whether you get a social media-ready masterpiece or a charmingly awkward close-up.

That’s exactly what happened to Ruby Doyle, a 22-year-old traveler from Melbourne, Australia, whose recent online experiment in Singapore has set the internet abuzz.

While visiting the chic Lantern rooftop bar at the Fullerton Hotel, Ruby and her boyfriend, Luke, decided to put a generational photo challenge to the test. The results? Let’s just say, the difference was as clear as the Singapore skyline on a sunny day.



A woman visiting a rooftop bar abroad posed with her boyfriend for a keepsake photo.

She asked two strangers to take the same shot. One was Gen Z. The other, Gen X.

What she didn’t expect? How different the final images would be.

In the first photo, the younger person angled the camera high and framed them with the glowing skyline in the distance.

In the second, the older stranger took a single close-up, ignoring the background almost entirely.

It looked like a different moment altogether.

"I was not expecting the post to garner as much attention as it did and I also wasn't expecting to create a generational war in the comments," she later said.


The polished shot taken by the Gen Z stranger was high-angle and well composed.

The dramatic skyline—believed to be Marina Bay Sands—added depth and energy. It looked like it belonged on a travel blog.

The Gen X version? It was close, flat, and tightly framed. It focused on their faces, without much care for lighting, angle, or environment.

"When we were posing for the photo being taken by the Gen X stranger my partner and I knew we weren't going to like it as she was holding it very low and only snapped the one pic," she explained.

She later posted a side-by-side comparison of both shots online. The clip quickly picked up traction, amassing nearly 535,000 views and more than 15,000 likes.



Online couldn’t look away People immediately picked sides.

Some thought the Gen Z photo was clearly better. Others saw value in the older person’s style.

"First one is better, you can see the building," said one user.

"Should have asked a millennial I think," another joked.

"I am constantly telling my mom to lift my phone higher and higher why do they go so low down," said Tess.

Photography, it turns out, says more than we think.



More than just a picture Experts suggest it all comes down to how each generation sees photography.

Gen Z, raised on smartphones and filters, often prioritize visual composition and setting.

Gen X, used to film and early digital cameras, may see photos as quick snapshots. One and done.

Doyle—22, from Melbourne—explained that she often takes pictures for strangers herself. She always tries to make sure people get more than one option.

"We took a photo of them in return making sure to get the background and take a few photos for them. We were happy when we found some younger people to take our photo as we thought they would have a similar eye as us," she said.

"When we compared the two photo it was funny to see the subtle differences in photography style so that's why I made the post. It also reminded me of my graduation when a girl stopped and asked my dad (Gen X) to take a photo of her and her family. My mom and I both laughed as we knew he is not very good with technology and jumped in to take over," she added.

Everyone suddenly had an opinion The comments kept pouring in. Everyone had a take.

"None of them, as a millennial I make two: one full-length and two cropped close up to the waist," said Vlad.

"Gen X and I'd never take a photo like the second one—I take pride in my photos and take about 5 for people of all different angles," one commenter noted.

"Lol, the Gen X photo is better tho," said another.

"First one is for the scenery while the second is like a fit of the day," someone else wrote.

"Both wrong. You should get both the buildings in the background and the full body without the feet cut off," another suggested.

"And neither is a photography masterpiece I'm afraid," added one critic.



What makes a “good” photo today? For many, a good photo today means more than just capturing faces.

It’s about lighting, mood, backdrop, composition. About memory and style.

That’s what may be at the heart of the generational photo gap.

Older generations see photography as a way to mark a moment. Younger ones see it as a way to share a story.

This isn’t the first time the woman has seen this difference play out. And after the viral response, it likely won’t be the last.

More generation-focused stories:

• “I’m 53 and my sex life is better than it’s ever been”: Why Gen X might be having the best time in the bedroom yet
• She’s younger than her son-in-law—and their family wouldn’t have it any other way

How would you have taken the photo? Would you focus on the skyline, the couple—or both? Tell us how you shoot photos when someone hands you their phone. We’re watching the comments carefully—don’t let Gen X or Gen Z win too easily.