Nothing New

If you’ve stumbled across this page without scanning a QR code from your phone (yes any smart phone has the ability to scan QR codes without an extra app) let me explain, as you might be a bit confused. Nothing New is an ongoing collection of work observing humans engulfed in their handheld devices. Either obtaining news, mindlessly scrolling, running a business, learning something new, sharing special moments, connecting with loved ones, obsessing over likes or even playing games; these devices give the individual the world at their fingertips.

But that’s nothing new.

This body of work is a strict observation of how we interact with these devices in the public eye. Starting in mid 2018 the project was born as a documentary piece intended to grow over the span of multiple years, compiling images that show the changes of how immersive and extensive the use of cellphones have and will become. Studies have come to show the decrease in attention span due to the development of technology. Things like: not being able to hold a verbal conversation, discomfort of eye contact, the inability to be alone in public without a distraction and so on are all actions becoming more common with advancements in technology.

In this work we see people interacting with their devices, oblivious to the world around them, so deeply that they have isolated themselves from the present. On the other hand… We also see people interacting with the devices as a way to connect with the people not around them. In instances the devices allowed for a connection to someone half way around the world.

As with everything, the growth of technology has its pros and cons. Overall Nothing New is presented strictly as an observation to allow you to take a better look at the world around you. It exists to make you question your presence (or maybe the lack of) in your daily life.

Sorry for the long winded explanation, if you’ve made it this far thanks! If you have any comments or feed back on this collection of images feel free to get in touch with me via the about page. Let’s start a conversation!

Some information on phone usage: https://nypost.com/2017/11/08/americans-check-their-phones-80-times-a-day-study/