Once a month I will display one of my photos captured and/or processed with Instagram over the last month. It’s a way for me to show photography that usually is quite different from my regular work. The pictures are displayed without any comments, hoping they will stand on their own. But I still very much appreciate any comments you may have. For more photos; visit www.instagram.com/ottovonmunchow/
In Flow with Otto 
This picture could become an emblem for sociologists to show the extent to which young people live in their phones and ignore the glorious real world around them. Was that your intention in taking the photograph?
Partly what you describe, but of course, also the beautiful sky and the scenery. Which even more contrasts against the woman and her focus on the cell phone.
I hope she’s looking at a trail map or the compass. If not, it’s a sad commentary, made even more striking because of the headphones isolating her from the sounds around her. The tower suggests H.G. Wells’s War of the Worlds — although it’s a different world today, and a somewhat different war.
It’s one thing I have never quite understood; when out in Mother Nature, why would you have to listen to something else than the piece and quiet that is provided…
I’ll put a positive spin on this (wonderful) photo. “Mom – don’t worry, I made it. Be home later today!”
I am glad you could make a positive interpretation of what’s going on here. 🙂
😊
I like the juxtaposition of the girl and the telegraph tower- like it’s beaming info into her headphones.
That’s another good take on the elements in this photo.
WHY do you need to be glued to the phone when there’s a glorious scene around you???
I good question, which I cannot answer. Of course, we could all have a look on the phone at any given moment, particularly if we use it as a camera, but, why would you?
Quite
Everyone else seems to get what I am getting from this. Beautiful scenery, beautiful young woman cut off from all the sensory experience that envelops her. I used to work at an outdoor education camp and one rule was no radios.(It was a while ago) The campers were devastated at first then tuned into nature and by the end of the 2-3 days didn’t want to leave.
It might interest you to know there are several girls’ camps in the Texas hill country where one of the rules is no electronic devices of any sort for the summer. Emails with parents are exchanged through the camp office! Good manners are expected at meals, too, and one guideline is that the girls should engage in ‘pleasant conversation.’ What a concept!
What a concept, indeed. Feels like something from the 50’s or thereabout, but maybe more youngster need such an experience…
Good learning experience. We think we cannot survive without the cell phone in this time and moment. But it’s just a matter of discovering or realizing what else is – and much better…
My reaction is generally to leave the electronic devices at home, and experience the place you are, really be immersed in your surroundings. But I also feel compelled to stick up for wearing headphones on occasion – – if this person has thought of a particular piece of music, that she wants to experience in these sublime surroundings. It might heighten her enjoyment of “Hall of the Mountain King.” I also like fragglerocking’s suggestion, of her linking to that tower across the valley.
What I really like, is the many interpretations or ways of seeing his photo. I didn’t think about it, but listening to Grieg’s old music would be a good enhancement of the experience.
Love the three: the mast , the woman and the blob ….great stuff.
Thank you, Paula.
I have exactly the same feeling as ‘fragglerocking’. The juxtaposition of the picture is great!
Thanks my friend.
There is a story in this photo, and that, to me, is always intriguing. I can only imagine the exhilaration of that view in person, but you’ve captured it!
Thank you for the feedback, Debra. Always appreciated.
Having just come from the backcountry where cell service is next to nill, I would forgive anyone for the temptation of looking for a random set of bars. And I also use my Giaigps on my phone and love to locate exactly where I am and what peaks and valleys I’m looking at. But the headphones? At first I thought maybe ear warmers, but I don’t think so. It doesn’t look cold enough to merit that. I guess the photo highlights the juxtaposition of isolation and the inability to fully isolate.
That was my idea, indeed. But as others have expressed, there are more than one interpretation of this photo.
As always. 😀
This is sad unless she is looking at setting to make a photo! 🙂
It’s the new (old) times…