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The cell phone. Is there any better talisman for our age? You'd think I'd have embraced cell phone photography some time ago given my penchant for small cameras I can keep in my pocket at all times, and my almost complete disregard for the importance of image quality in photographs. Tempted I've been, but... I don't own a cell phone.

The years have gone by and I am now jealous of the image quality that comes from most cell phone cameras. But I just can't bring myself to collapse the entirety of the space-time encompassing my social group into now-and-always and here-in-my-hand. Sure, smartphones are great. I understand their appeal. I owned a Newton MessagePad in the day. But the unintended consequences of this technology is warping society with FOMO, notification addiction, and information silos. I have become curmudgeon.

Here a woman worships at Salisbury Cathedral. She supplicates herself before history, great architecture and 'the perfect shot' for her Instagram. I have been known to adopt this posture myself (although not for Instagram).

I like the group of people in the background. Look closely. At least two of them are using their phones too. The sculpture of feet was part of an exhibition by Sophie Ryder showing at the Cathedral at the time.

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19.04