Technology is so much fun but we can drown in our technology. The fog of information can drive out knowledge. ~ Daniel J. Boorstin
About the photo: The temperature was near freezing with a heavy fog masking most of the details of my surroundings during a recent morning walk. I gave pause at the above scene to make this photo with my iPhone, the only one I made that day. Winter trees can often look harsh without leaves but the fog and early morning lighting, in this case, softened the effect, displaying a pleasing composition.
Embracing technology, one can face so much noise from the constant bombardment of data or information these days. I see some who appear to handle it well but I often wonder if they’re simply being sweep downstream within the raging flow and don’t even realize it. There’s also those who want to track our every electronic movement while promising to do no harm in order to predict our actions or needs for their own profits. I fight the “currents” in my own small way, unsubscribing, spam filters, disposable email addresses, protecting my personal information and not using some services but I wonder, when is enough, enough?
There are times I feel overwhelmed and have to pause, take a break from it all, to reset my own mental filters and re-center myself to be able to focused on the knowledge to be had, those important things, among all random bombarding data – part of 2013 might have been a reset period for me.
I go into 2014 without any resolutions. I hope to be productive and somewhat successful using my efforts at photography as a tool to discover more about myself and those things around me. If an additional outcome of that effort should produce even a few “good” photos, I’ll consider it “the icing upon the cake.”
Daniel J. Boorstin – now there’s a name I haven’t heard in many years. When I got out of the army in 1968 I returned to college with majors in history and political science. I loved that stuff. One of my history professors was a big fan of Boorstin and used his books extensively (especially the ones dealing with the colonial and revolutionary period). Both my professor and Boorstin brought all of it to life. I discovered that early American history was nothing like the nonsense I’d learned in high school. Your quote, by the way, is a damn good one and certainly pertinent today. Maybe you should send it to the NSA.
I love your image. The sepia tone helps to express the dormancy of the trees and grass in a South Carolina winter.
Yes, I think it’s a good practice to “question everything” these days — trust can no longer be assumed. It’s an interesting story of your exposure to Boorstin in college, Paul. I knew a little of him and his work but it sounds like you are much better aquatinted. :-)
This image has got the year off to a good start, Earl. I’m reminded of a quote which is slightly tangential to the one you quote but definitely in the same ball park: ‘The skill of telling stories through still images is often lost in a welter of technicalities’. It’s from a UK Photographer, Brian Gaylor.
While I think there’s often a story behind an image, I’m certain not all images tell them well and I noticed our focus on the technical side of digital photography has added “more noise to that story telling room.”
Yeah, I think drowning is a pretty good term. So much seems to be upon us about always staying connected these days. A natural reaction is the urge to disconnect – have felt it many times myself. Love the fog Earl – nature’s great simplifier!
I think reach a bit of overload last year and distinctively pulled back. Not sure yet where my priorities will be this year. Thanks, Mark.
A very nice image, Earl. I like the simultaneous simplicity and complexity of it, as well as the dual symmetry and asymmetry.
Hope you are having a good start to the new year!
Hi Eric, thanks! I hope this year is good to you as well.
I’ve taken in too much water over the past year and a half because of the undaunting internet. As some may notice I’ve not spent as much time on the internet and am way behind in commenting on bloggers I follow. I found myself spending too much time on Face Book with my iphone and deleted the app. That way I only get on there when I sit at this computer. Social media seems to isolate rather than connect us. Much prefer meeting for lunch or coffee or a walk. I much prefer Face-to-face to Face Book.
I think the technology can be a positive…it’s all about finding a balance. Harder to do then said.
I like your composition of these trees Earl. It makes for a beautiful photo. I think a lot of people would have composed it using the rule-of-thirds. I like that you didn’t but instead placed these trees as you did: one on each side of the middle. Pure balance. As for technology, the Internet, social media… well, it’s neither good or bad in itself but what we make of it. As you said Earl, both with your words in your response to Monte and with your image, like with everything else in life, it’s all about finding balance.