What Once Was, To What Now Is
Generational hands, new tools, same message.
It was important to me to weave in some ongoing symbolism, and here is where it starts. First there is a map, a well-known human tool, now digitized for us to do the same thing we did when it was paper. What was once old-school was now modernized for the average employee looking for restrooms.
I used multiple corporate agency shots that symbolize a collaboration of what I called, “technological” and “artisanal”. We see shelves of literature and framed art with technology nested throughout. While a high-tech water dispenser overshadows a sink that fulfills the same need.
a collection of “framed” art
technological vs. artisanal
One of my favorite shots is the close-up of the TV “frame” and an authentic framed painting. There was a reason I placed it after the zoomed-out image of the entire wall. The sleekness of the TV, with emphasis on its buttons and sheen, stands in contrast to the intricately sculpted frame. This distinction shows that while humans continue to advance their tools, they still use them to communicate the same message: framed art.
two men, mid-sidewalk, “tools” in hand
NYC
I start to diverge from the initial itemized tone of my captions, adding reflection and personality. I chose to call smartphones “tools” to give them more weight and expectation of those in the photo.
three men, at work on a construction site, “tools” in hand
NYC
The two men blocking the sidewalk must be doing that because of their intricate work they need to do, at that exact moment, with their very important tools. Just like the construction workers are breaking record numbers with the way they’re using those tools. It’s simply satire.
pedestrian stopped at a crosswalk, hard at work with their “tool”, enjoying the view of skyscrapers
I circle back to the generational symbolism by using, plugged in, younger commuters next to an older gentleman present in his travels. Grand Central escalators provided some great shots of just how steep that commute is. It was especially interesting that so many people were walking and on their phone at the same time, something I mostly saw with younger travelers. I had to take these pretty much without looking.
Once I bring it into the LIRR section of the station, I really exaggerate what was vs. what is when it comes to humans and their tools.
from what once was, to what now is
original station aesthetic housing a group of commuters assessing the upgraded train time tech
patrons rush by, connected into everything but their surroundings
LIRR seat availability prediction tool
traveler surrounded by screens
From pay phones to iPhones, time charts to time tech, and predictable seating maps, humans have once again proved that the tools may change but the need stays the same.
JFK airport waiting area, can you count the screens? (it’s at least 3)
how about now?
My last few shots before my conclusion emphasize the tools of advertising. What was once a single print poster can now rotate, multiply, and encapsulate the audience.
finally home
where I can snuggle up with my dog, and of course, our screens
My ending shot is a completion shot. All that trekking, commuting, and messaging just to get back home. With the ironic emphasis on the tech tools that infiltrate yet another space, there’s no escape.
In the end, the tools evolve, but the human story remains the same: seeking, building, connecting. Whether through paper maps or glowing screens, framed art or digital frames, we continue to shape our world with the same hands, just holding different tools.
All photos were taken by myself, Jaiden Molyneux.
