27th -

Doug Cruden | all galleries >> Forum Challenges >> A Pink Floyd Cornucopia in November 09 > 27th - "Speak To Me"


26-NOV-2009	(c) Doug Cruden

27th - "Speak To Me"

Cheltenham, Glos

(from the 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon)

Print media, television, phone....there's all sorts of communications these days (not to mention email and Web 2.0 apps like RSS/Atom, Twitter, YouTube or Facebook*, or GPRS/3G doo-dahs such as text/SMS, mobile internet, mobile TV...) all trying to tell us or sell us something, or just plain shout at us for the sake of shouting at us.

The result? Maybe I'm already an old fogey, but I only watch a couple of hours TV a week, I hardly ever use my moby (it's usually the kids texting me...why won't they dial my number and SPEAK to me??) and the landline gets the occasional workout. About the only consistent thing for me is the newspaper - good journalism (and it's rare to find any these days) is worth supporting, but the immediacy of the internet and its 24/7 news coverage is slowly eroding the base of both the broadsheets and the tabloids alike as the modern generations depend more and more on 15 second sound-bite information bursts. Sad times but that I suppose is the price we pay for technological advances; I wonder what Ned Ludd would say about 21st centry Britain...

Friday 27th's Shock!-Drama!-Elvis-found-on-Mars-partying-with-Michael-Jackson entry to the Challenge; click here for other Floydian adventurers this month

*I haven't mentioned them only because I couldn't get the PC in shot :o)

Nikon D300 ,Nikkor 28mm f/2.8D AF
1/3s f/7.1 at 28.0mm iso200 off-camera SB600 Speedlight full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto

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Guest		30-Nov-2009 21:09
I agree with your commentary... I am on a computer and the phone all day for work and often for pleasure with photograpjy. I would rather listen to the news on the radio than watch it on TV and nothing makles me happier than to power off my mobile!

Marielou Dhumez		29-Nov-2009 12:54
Yes, so good ! we have "pléthore" of medias and we are in the silence....!!!

Jola Dziubinska		29-Nov-2009 00:10
How true, I always prefer to talk then to sms.

Inga Morozoff		28-Nov-2009 18:31
I don't use mobile phones, don't have cable television, don't do the FaceSpace thing, nor any other electronic networking. Guess I'm a social retard, but I'd rather read a good book, or better yet, be out with the camera than being a slave to participate in meaningless conversations in these digital times.

Cindi Smith		28-Nov-2009 15:21
Oh, what a great combination and a great idea for the song. Yep, this speaks to me!

Mairéad		27-Nov-2009 23:11
Love this, and I agree with your sentiments. Especially regarding newspapers. Most companies just regard them as products, like tins of beans, and it's all about profits, not about the things which inspired people to found newspapers years ago when the whole idea was to give a voice to the community, to the unheard, to educate, inform and entertain. Now it's hard to tell what's news and what's now with the lines blurry between reality and 'reality'. Sorry, I;m on my hobby horse. Great work. V

Barbara Heide		27-Nov-2009 22:44
clever interpretation!

Kevin Chester		27-Nov-2009 21:51
Thats brilliant Doug, very very well thought out and executed

lisamidi		27-Nov-2009 21:00
Great shot and a perfect comment, I agree completely with it! Your are really fabulous in pointing out important aspects of life! Btw, I'm glad you survived the attack yesterday!-

Chris		27-Nov-2009 20:08
And one of the worst things is the use of mobiles on public transport - eg the 'quiet' carriage on trains! But I love your interpretation of this one.

Walter Otto Koenig		27-Nov-2009 17:21
Excellent, a statement for the times. So many ways to communicate, but actually so little that counts is said. Good choice of Newspaper and a great set up for this song. "V"

LynnH		27-Nov-2009 17:10
I have a short attention span, so the little bits of information coming from all directions works for me. But I won't Twitter... I draw the line there! Fabulous idea for the challenge. Excellent light throughout the shot too!

globalgadabout		27-Nov-2009 16:35
this still life speaks volumes...oddly here in the colonies I regularly read the Guardian too...but online!!...otherwise the paper is days late...agree we should switch it all off a lot more often...and keep neglecting the television...V

Phillip Normanton		27-Nov-2009 14:01
What a funky pair of trousers you're wearing!! ;o)

Sheila		27-Nov-2009 12:34
I still love listening to the radio and don't use a mobile phone. Agree with Boris, you are very good at communication.

marita toftgard		27-Nov-2009 10:24
well said!!!! I think it is dangerous.. because our brains can never relax ..maybe many of us twitter, text or whatever else in our sleep... my oldest son has started shutting off the mobile...and only checking in sometimes.. more like the good old times.. In my childhoood (not too long ago:))) we lived in Tanzania.. no phone.. no radio communication...but it worked out somehow v

Stephanie		27-Nov-2009 10:02
Very clever Doug!

Maaike Huizer		27-Nov-2009 08:38
A strong image, it really tells a story. Lots of possibilities to communicate and yet it feels so empty, lonely. V

borisalex		27-Nov-2009 08:23
Very good, Doug! You are the master of communicating..and YOU speak to us! V.

Kathryn		27-Nov-2009 07:04
Great one - very interesting shot indeed. Yes, all this communication and more lonely people out there than ever!! We seem to have lost the art of good old friendship. When we have to make an effort. Have a wonderful weekend.

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