Devil's Playground?

Gallery: POP PhotosPosted October 20, 2013318 views4 comments

Firing off e-mails is satisfying, allowing you to cross tasks off your to-do list at warp speed. But increasingly, women are turning to the keyboard for more than setting up meetings. Technology makes it easier to bring up thorny topics while avoiding confrontation. And in our busy world, typed-out messages are fast becoming a substitute for the meaningful conversations that keep people connected. So if everyone is doing it, does that make it OK? (American Media Inc.)
I used Nik HDR Efex Pro 2, adding a 'sinister' look..

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Paul Breitkreuz on October 20, 2013 at 2:07 PM

I think the look fits the name perfectly, Howard. Looks like the one girl has a huge belt buckle, maybe rodeo style? Anyway, they seem to be engaged on line with the hand held device for some reason, thankfully not while driving.

The technological commentary brought back a recent memory from a trip to JTNP. I was at the local McD's out there doing the breakfast thing, when a large SUV pulled in loaded with kids and a church or scout leader of some kind. Anyway, the kids came in and started in on the hand held devices, only to find out the WiFi was down. They started to make a fuss when the leader said over the entire crowd, do what we did when we were kids, talk to each other right here in real time.....

Registered on February 25, 2006, 525 Posts, 8448 Comments

Comment posted by Mike Ramy on October 20, 2013 at 7:47 PM

Howard,
You make a great point with this wonderful image that is beautifully sinister. The lines of the Vertical Pano crop are outstanding and a masterful choice for this composition.
When I was this age, the older generations thought we were on the road to ruin because of Rock-n-Roll and long hair. Wonder what the future holds for these girls when their children become teenagers. That’s a sinister thought !

Registered on June 16, 2012, 567 Posts, 2809 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Fricke on October 22, 2013 at 4:12 PM

Very provocative image Howard I like the processing to capture the mood with the exception of the halo around the girls, most notably around their heads. You certainly do highlight a problem with the overuse of cellphones. I live in a quaint little neighborhood populated by tons of new parents. I sit on my porch as they walk by texting and pushing their strollers or walking their kids. I've seen two women run their stroller into a telephone pole while texting and saw another mother with a little 5 year old girl in tow where the girl was trying to get her moms attention away from the phone and simply couldn't. I've also witnessed parents pushing their strollers across the street without even looking up from their phones. It's kind of sad and a bit dangerous...

Registered on January 19, 2007, 133 Posts, 1448 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on October 30, 2013 at 10:21 AM

Thank you all. Scott - I knew I had some halo from the conversion to this 'sinister' look, but left it.
I thought it gave the girls an 'aura' of ill intent.
I went back and brushed their hair a bit to lessen the effect, and reworked/backed-off on the HDR 'sinister' look..
Happy Halloween

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments