Japan's Smartphone "Zombies"

Image Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/11/17/national/social-issues/japans-smartphone-zombies-turn-urban-areas-human-pinball/#.VGn1GB-9KSN

 

I just loved the title of this article in the Japan Times:

"Japan's smartphone 'zombies' turn urban areas into human pinball."

 

The interesting thing is, I've always thought that Japanese in urban areas are tuned out from their environment. Never would I call them "zombies," but I have been run into, run over, bumped, slid along walls, redirected (including go from "up" to "down" on stairways), etc. in Japan, particularly in train stations. It is closely related to how they tend to create their own mental space in crowds, even though they may be in contact with several other people, physically.

 

(Click Here) to read the whole story on the Japan Times website.

 

Apparently, this walking and biking while using smartphones is a serious problem.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

Four of Twenty Nine Chicago Sun-Times Photogs Return to Work - But Is It Really Good News?

Image Source: http://www.diyphotography.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/7594964986_f37f2b9913_b.jpg

 

Last summer, I posted about the Chicago Sun-Times laying off all of their staff photographers, including the legendary John White. Well, apparently they've hired four of them back.

 

(Click Here) to read my post from last summer.

 

While this sounds like great news, the details in a post on diyphotography.net tells that the rehiring was really due to union contract negotiations, rather than necessarily being related to their need for professional photographers. It also says that in their rehired positions, they'll need to be "multimedia," with significant focus on videography.

 

(Click Here) to read about it on diyphotography.net

 

Well, I hope it's good news for these four photographers; it doesn't really sound like great news for the photojournalism trade.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Former Chicago Sun-Times Photographer John White Keeps it Light

 

Image Source: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/27/in-flight-john-white-shares-his-light/?_r=0#/1/

M. Spencer Green / Associated Press

 

Recently, the Chicago Sun-Times fired all of their staff photographers. In today's world of digital music downloads and ongoing extinction of book stores, this doesn't seem like such a surprise. So much of the visual media is recorded on cell phones these days. But, you have to look a little deeper.

 

For example, one of those photographers was at the pinnacle of the craft. Pulitzer prize winner John White is now a former Sun-Times photographer.

 

(Click Here) to read an article on the NY Times blog, Lens, about Mr. White and how he mentored NY Times photographer Michelle Agins to a successful career in photography.

 

But, Mr. White is keeping his chin up. He says he's not fighting the darkness, he's lighting candles.

 

Here's to the true master photographers out there, adjusting to the modern world. Some of us still value what you can do - with a cell phone or a Nikon. And, you did it every day for a whole career.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com