Photographer Eric Pickersgill has created a striking series on the subject of phone addiction called “Removed”. In each candid image he removes the screen from peoples hands, highlighting our obsession with technology while somewhat humorously showing how often we’re staring at our hand.
The work was inspired by an observation he once made in a restaurant:
“Family sitting next to me at Illium café in Troy, NY is so disconnected from one another. Not much talking. Father and two daughters have their own phones out. Mom doesn’t have one or chooses to leave it put away. She stares out the window, sad and alone in the company of her closest family. Dad looks up every so often to announce some obscure piece of info he found online. Twice he goes on about a large fish that was caught. No one replies. I am saddened by the use of technology for interaction in exchange for not interacting. This has never happened before and I doubt we have scratched the surface of the social impact of this new experience. Mom has her phone out now.”
