January 25, 2012

Glowing Rectangles

For the most part of my life I’ve been staring at some form of glowing rectangle and I’m pretty sure I’m not alone here. I’d go so far as suggesting that the majority of people reading this post would have had a similar experience in their own lives. As a result it’s almost expected that we’re staring at a glowing rectangle for the majority of our waking hours.

I believe this constant need to be connected is affecting my life in a negative way and I’m very interested in exploring the topic on a boarder scale. From my experience and observation these fascinating devices seem to create a world of isolation, disconnection with our surroundings, and a lack being present (all things leading away from a life of happiness…) I’d love to hear your thoughts on how glowing rectangles affect your life (both positively & negatively) hit up the comment section below.

This is part of a long term project and the pictures below are from Melbourne and Singapore.

Category Documentary, Life, Street Photography, Travel Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

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Tim - Interesting thoughts. Great pics.

Michael Whitehead - Great idea Jez. Love the one of the two guys at the food stall.

I too feel anxiety that sometimes a reliance on being connected is a negative in my life.

Daniel Briglia - Always love reading your stuff Jeremy. You make a very valid point, which only confirms my actions for deleting Facebook recently! (I only reactivated because a number of websites require it as a login! :S ) I also only reactivated it as I’ll end up being hound as a means of contact once back at uni.

In regards to the above, I’ve always wondered what made emails or a simple phone call so obsolete and ‘difficult?’ I can’t stand feeling like I HAVE to own a Facebook account – #1 pet hate.

As for technology, used in moderation I believe it’s fantastic in that you have so much information ready for access right at your fingertips. I definitely can’t quote any stats, but I also believe there must be a decent footprint reduction in regards to waste – a PC, iPod, smartphone, eReader, etc. lasts A LOT longer than a magazine and if not, portable storage is definitely easier to carry around than a whole bag full of books.

Regardless of the above, I think the photo you have of the old bloke with the newspaper and the younger guy on the phone next to him on the bench pretty much sums it all up. It’s more about convenience (at least for me and the others that try to not let it ruin our lives) than it is about it being forced on us.

There’s sooooooooo much more to it, but I like to think it’s [mostly] for the best if kept in moderation. Keep ‘em coming! ;)

P.S: I’ll hopefully be starting my own blog shortly – when my new NEX 7 decides to hit aussie shores – I may come hunting for some ideas if you don’t mind. I feel so lost having not had a camera for more than 6 months! :(

Mel - Love this idea. I’m on call 24/7 with my full time job, which require me to sleep in the same room as my phone, I never had an issue when in the past it was just my personal phone but when it is my work phone, I find it creates allot of anxiety for me, I now wake up multiple times throughout the night, just to check my phone, and the idea of going away for a weekend where there would likely be no phone reception is thoroughly exciting. iIn my personal life, my iPhone is an extension of my personality, I use it for everything, and I even use it as a conversation tool these days, frequently I use it facilitate conversation or to embellish an explanation of complex topics, personally I love having my phone near me, but the thought of having my work phone endlessly is draining. Further to this, I’ve also recently found that using an iPad to read the newspaper was strangely uncomfortable, I really felt like the medium was draining me, and I wouldn’t chose to use it to read information such a newspapers, magazines or even blogs.

Dale Tidy - If it wasn’t glowing, it would be matte. Information contained in an efficient rectangle for ease of use. I don’t think it is negative or positive at all, just a different way of utilizing and engaging in the present.

aimee - hi jeremy :) great pictures and a great idea. i make promises to myself every year to stop looking at the glowing rectangle that is my computer screen. i think if i spent less time flitting around the internet i would feel more…alive. i feel like my head gets really full and busy and i go to sleep feeling overwhelmed and with a million ideas and pictures floating through my brain.

on the other hand, if i didn’t have my glowing rectangle i probably wouldn’t be where i am now, and wouldn’t have met the people i have. then again, if no body had a glowing rectangle we would all probably find some other way to communicate and network. i do love a good letter in the mail.

hope this helps, jeremy, all the best with your project – you’ll go far! :)

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