Technology

This photograph could easily illustrate an article addressing how people are being replaced by technology/robots/machines. Notions of "big brother" neutralising the individual and replacing them with a computer algorithm, spring to mind.

The Face of Technology, is an excellent visualisation of a prescient condition in contemporary culture.

There were several photographs within this competition that utilised similar environments. Miniature worker figures examining a circuit-board provides another example that challenges our perception of scale. In so doing, it stimulates the viewer to consider aspects of technology that may otherwise go unnoticed.

A quiet, intriguing photograph. We don't even see the technology to know that the blue light illuminating the child's face is the technological subject of this photograph. It certainly brings to mind serious considerations of children and their growing interaction with personal devices, along with the impact of such in the future.

I found this photograph endlessly fascinating. It combines the scale perception of micro and aerial photography.

The subject is a series of micro-processor boards viewed from overhead, thus replicating the effect of aerial photographs of cityscapes. The accurate use of perspective and the sweep of light from top-right reinforces this perception.

Though some of the content has been duplicated in post-production it does not detract from the overall effect.

This is a wonderful photograph. It makes me smile!

From a technological standpoint, to build a "fun-ride", that seemingly places human lives in mortal danger, yet must definitely be completely safe, is an incredible achievement.

The photograph's composition is a classic rule-of-thirds (left-hand third relatively busy, right-hand thirds more spacious). It uses the open large curve of this section of the ride to also frame the mountain in the background. These two elements — ride and mountain — are brilliantly linked by the photographer doing good "photography-things". They have frozen the car, with hair-hanging peeps, upsidedown. It is as if the car were deliberately stopped so the funseekers had a better view of the mountain top! Crazy.

A thoughtfully composed landscape photograph is punctuated by two clear forms of technology. We, firstly glance through the clear dark lines of the electricity power cables and supporting structure. Such technology is ubiquitous and we barely consider it as we take in the landscape view.

In so doing, our eye is drawn to the bright spot of light in the distance. What is that exactly? Our photographer has thoughtfully provided information to make perfectly clear what it is — a concentrated solar thermal plant. Without such knowledge we would nonetheless determine that such a bright light in daylight hours can mean only one thing: a reflection of the sun. The structure therefore, must relate to technology that harnesses its power.

Photographs that work with reflections provide an abstract depth, that can be both engaging and confusing, but often very interesting.

The double-view of the photographer (and possible patient, too) reflects the hospital interior whilst also providing some detail of the landscape beyond. Linking these two views is the smart phone of the photographer, whose face it conceals.

Though the photograph does not make "technology" its principle subject, it nonetheless reinforces the reliance on such (technological standards of the medical industry) and the simple personal computer we call our "phones".

I very much liked this photograph. And, I particularly appreciated the detailed information provided by the photographer. I urge you all to read this. I won't bother adding anything as the creator has expertly written my review for me. Thank you!

Another example that uses the perception of scale to good effect. The foreground is a circuit board mimicking the structures of an industrial plant. The background (distant, out-of-focus) reinforces our (miss)perception of this, as it is in an actual industrial plant of some description.

Thus, these two elements — foreground micro-processor and background industrial plant — are melded as if literally associated as one.

In relation to our subject, "Technolodogy" it plays on the extremes of scale and perception (the large and obvious against the tiny and hidden). Great work.

This is an intriguing photograph. What is it exactly? To be honest, I could not work it out without reading the photographer's details, which revealed it to be a simple egg slicer.

Simple, graphic, deceptive of scale and perspective, this photograph grabbed my attention and did not let go until I'd learned its true identity. Great photographs do that to you!

A simple, perfectly composed photograph of paving bricks. How does this relate to technology? Bricks are an early example of building technology — they are an extremely suitable material to make buildings with. So good, in fact that they are little changed to this day (thousands of years hence initial development).

This image brings a smile to my face.

The photograph presents a frozen moment in a fun-race featuring homemade motorised vehicles. The driver/participants have accentuated the old-school technology by dressing to match and having tea en route! Their gaseous trail obscures the background, in so doing it provides a neutral background to accentuate the racers and also the extended arms of smart phone camera enthusiasts.

Thus, the photographer has expertly captured a fleeting moment that brilliantly links contemporary and bygone technologies.

A silhouetted figure on a horse stops at the waters edge and makes a photograph of a beautiful sunset. What has all that got to do with technology?

Nothing and everything. The horse in this instance represents an early form of technology as a mode of transport. The camera in the figure's hand is, we presume, a smart phone — a very recent form of technology. And the horizon's beautiful sunset contains wisps of steam/smoke from a distant industrial plant. Yet more technological evidence.

Whether all this was intended by the photographer when captured I do not know. Nonetheless it quietly (?) shouts "technology" within a picturesque scene.

I was so intrigued by this photograph: curved lines on a neutral grey surface. They looked so familiar, yet their real purpose remained unclear. Once again, the scale was difficult to determine. The shallow depth-of-field added to the intrigue, highlighting tiny, ambiguous particles.

I examined the photographer's notes to clarify exactly what the subject is — an induction hob. Whilst this made sense, it still did not explain those tiny particles! Dust?

What I like about such photographs is that they challenge the viewer to look closely, to consider a subject (in this instance, an everyday one) in a different way, and thus to reassess their world.

When I requested to judge a photography contest addressing technology I did not expect to be smiling so much when writing my critiques.

Another photograph that makes me smile.

Firstly, lets examine the bones of this composition. It is a photograph of a washing machine positioned in a typical place within a home. I appreciate the vertical door frame which holds the left-hand edge of frame; the benchtop which further frames the machine; and, the snippet of other detail (the old biscuit tine) above this. Linking all this is the figure, seemingly captured in a spinning cycle.

Such a composite (clearly explained by the photographer) is easily achieved with some production forethought and basic post-production application.

What it also alludes to are notions of technology overload, being trapped by machines/technologies, etc. It is a humorous take on a subject of great significance.