Donna asks us: Have you ever thought about how photography connects the world? Nobody sees the world exactly the same way as you do. And, how you interpret this week’s challenge is up to you, you will find the interpretations are limitless.
For this post, I let my thoughts wander – and wonder. Humans are meant to be connected… but are we? In new ways, yes, but in the traditional ways? Today, connections are faster than ever, quicker than ever…but for some people, more difficult than ever. We read about young people who cannot, dare not contact another human being. Be it on the phone or face to face. Some can only write in anonymity in special forums. Or never. In Japan this problem is widely recognized and has been much discussed in media. They even have courses in how to meet someone in person, especially to find a partner.
In my opener is a night view from Tokyo Sky Tree. All those lights…do you feel curious about the souls behind them? Or, maybe you even feel alienated? Personally, I have a mix of those feelings.
On my trip to Japan, I traveled a lot by train, and Shinkansen is a superb way to connect over long distances. They are super fast and always on time – which we cannot say the Swedish trains are… The first ten times I checked my watch – and the trains arrived on the exact second and left on another exact second. Fascinating. Disciplined and clever people.
Connections, yes, that gives you many opportunities and broad possibilities for interpretation. It could be steps and stairs, tunnels, bridges, roads…but also a room where you are forced to meet people, like in trains, planes and buses.
When it comes to people, in my country we sit alone in the bus or train, not talking to each other…everyone reading or playing on the phone. In some countries, it is still easy to make contact with the person sitting next to you, but I am afraid those opportunities are dwindling. Sad but typical of our times. Let’s just put down our phones for a while – there is so much to gain from that. Real connections.
What is a selfie? Is it trying to find a connection to – yourself? Narcissism? I don’t know. In a beautiful park I found these ladies sitting at a table eating and talking…maybe about the loveliness of Spring? Connections like these might be the beginning of something pleasant and enriching…like friendship.
Talking about friendship – animals and pets remain close to our hearts – with unconditional love. It is easy to love when you know you will get the same back again… No disappointments. These two men were carrying their pets all day long. More than gladly they let me photograph them – but only them.
The connection to religion is mostly something happening inside me. In Fukuoka, we happened upon a 41 meter long bronze Buddha reclining in a forest. You could even walk into it. In many religions, a figure of the ”God” is the connection between people/deity/heaven.
As we arrived during the Golden Week, we saw many people hiring kimonos and other traditional clothes for the festivities. Manifesting the connection between old and new, and also traditions from different countries and cultures.
This was an American couple, where the lady was fully dressed and made up as a Geisha. We saw several couples doing this, sometimes the man too had hired a traditional costume.
Connections – can of course be completely literally meant – tangible, like these wires. Somehow I like that. It is a blur of course, but with meaning. And it’s old time…
Now we are looking forward to connecting with you throughout the week! Remember to use the Lens-Artists tag and/or link to Donna’s post.
Last week we left our comfort zone with John’s challenge, AI. But, it was an interesting conversation and the AI art was extraordinary well done. Whatever you think of AI – it is always good to learn something new!
Next week, Ritva will be our host – go see her fantastic site for more inspiration! Until then, sleep well and eat well – and stay in harmony with yourself so you can feel comfortable in your connections.
Leya 
I like your connections Ann Christine, many of them I wouldn’t have thought of.
Thank you, Leanne. I too noticed there were many connections in the posts coming in, that I never had thought of. That is one of the good things with blogging!
I love your people photos!! I also agree on your cell phone observation!
Thank you, Nora!
Wonderful, but I can’t help but wonder about the mom and children who are seemingly wiped out on the train. Why are they so tired? Where have they been? Where are they going? Are they vulnerable? A very intriguing photo.
Yes, I wondered too. But as this was a week when everybody travelled (the Golden Week) to relatives and to see flowers blooming – they might have traveled a long distance. And taking care of two small children can be a demanding task. I don’t know what happened later, because we went off the train when they were still asleep.
Ann-Christine, this is a great post! I enjoyed reading about your time in Japan and seeing such interesting pictures! My favorites were seeing friends spending time together and, of course, the pets!
Thank you, Sylvia – happy you liked them. Japan was a treat.
Great post illustrating many types of connections and thought provoking text. I love how you opened with an image of the Tokyo night sky and closed with the street scene with the overhead wires.
Thank you! It is good to be able to use Japan photos too. Glad you liked it!
A wonderful way to highlight more of your wonderful experiences in Japan Ann-Christine. Lived them all, as always. The geisha with the man somehow really pulled me in but all are terrific
Thank you, Tina! Yes, I am trying to use the Japan trip now. Hope you are enjoying yours!
Ann-Christine, your eye for composition is inspiring. Even the mundane, such as people on a train, becomes a wonderful photo. The opener was gorgeous. I loved the various connections you explored with these beautiful images.
Thank you, Egidio – you are always positive and that was a lovely comment♥ I really liked that train photo myself. I was silently watching the lone mother with her children. She was sooo tired, and I was a bit afraid she would drop the little child as she fell asleep. I don’t know the end of the story, because we reached our station first.
Such a thoughtful post, Ann-Christine. I love your selection of photos and your thoughts on and questions about connectedness. You reminded me of when I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and took the train all over the place. We didn’t have cell phones back then, but still passengers rarely interacted with each other, preferring to read their books or newspapers or stare out the window. Still, we were connected in a way, sharing a space for a little while.
Yes, newspapers and books it was. but a bit easier to chat anyway. And connected in a way – my daughter use to say she love trainrides because it is a world in between. I like that.
That is a lovely way to think about train rides. I liked the mingling of people. I would see men in expensive suits and carrying fancy briefcases sitting next to elderly Chinese women with their multiple plastic bags full of groceries. The mingling of classes and races was reassuring.
I like that too – in every country there are interesting social interactions to notice.
Ann-Christine, your post hit all the marks. The photos are gorgeous and your words connected the dots perfectly for me. The theme, connections is a real winner. It certainly gave me much to think over. More power to you.
Thank you, Sheetal – yes, there definetely is a point in pondering how we connect…
A lovely post with many thoughtful views about the personal connections we make/don’t make. I’m surprised that young people find it hard to form relationships whether through school or college or work. It’s harder once you stop working.
Thanks, Jude – and yes, it is surprisingly tough for them. But, I believe it is much because of the ideals, role models they get from media. They find it easier to communicate without actually coming close.
Makes sense, but it is very sad.
Very.
This was a powerful post, AC. Not only does it connect us to further enjoyment of your trip to Japan, it connects us to each other and a chance to look in the mirror if you will. I find it sad there needs to be classes to teach people how to connect when laughter and a smile should to the trick. But you are right it is a different time. Your photos are stunning and I Iaughed at the efficient train system. As someone who loves to be on time, I would welcome that. All of your words speak so much wisdom and I love that you were able to come about these thoughts from your travel. I loved all your images, as I always do, but it is the Buddha and the geisha photo I especially loved today. Yes….a powerful post!
Thank you, Donna! There was so much to choose from in this challenge – I am glad I finally found a way! Hope it wasn’t too negative.
No at all. I think it brought priorities and thoughts about reflecting on what is important.
♥
Great photos and connections. I love the pets!
Thanks, John!
A lovely exploration of our social connections (or lack of) in modern living. Thanks for voicing some of my thoughts Ann-Christine.
You are welcome – it was an interesting challenge. I enjoy reading.
Yes, it’s a good challenge.
Wonderful thoughts and images on connections Ann-Christine. That Buddha statue is amazing. I also liked your comparison of the selfie to the in-person conversational group. You gave us a lot to think about.
Thank you, Anne. There was much to choose between. Connections could be anything.
😍
Interesting discussion about people connecting with each other with fab examples, AC.
Love the animal connection.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed my examples!
You are welcome, AC.
Lovely photos from Japan to illustrate the points you make about connections and the importance of making them 🙂
Thank you, Sarah – good to be able to use them!
Your post is on point, Ann-Christine. People regress into themselves on public transport. It didn’t used to be that way. I find it interesting how the cell phone was meant to connect us, but it does more now to isolate us.
And you are on point too, John. The last sentence says it all. In Sweden there is now finally a decision the students are not allowed to have their phones in the class room.
Wonderful photos from one of the loveliest seasons in Japan. That photo of a group of people sitting out for a picnic lunch is so typical of this time: each week for a flower, first cherries, then rhodo, then wisteria, and so on. I found it easy (except for the language) to talk to people in Japan. Not so in your country, where people would bury themselves in a newspaper even before smart phones were invented. I guess that is part of the difference we travel to experience. In some cultures casual connections are not appreciated, only deep and lasting ones.
Thank you – you are certainly right about the different outings for different flowers. And what was extra interesting and good, was how many men were out there too. In Sweden I believe most men is not that interested – but maybe follow their partners out. In Japan the men seemed to savour the beauty, and some even photographed.
I too found it very easy to talk to people in Japan – at least in the big cities where they could speak some English. Body language is good too – and the Japanese men and women were always smiling and helpful.
Swedes and other Scandinavians are known for being non-talkative. We think it is much because of our long winters and the distance between many of our villages and houses. Deep and lasting connections is our thing.
Dear Ann-Christine
we like your associative text. We think, everything is changing and so communication as well. In a way that’s evolution.
When I was travelling using public transportation I used to read so that nobody would start a conversation with me. I preferred not to be talked to. My experience is that in fast trains and planes a lot of people want to talk.
Thanks for choosing this interesting topic
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Happy you enjoyed it, thank you! I do recognise not wanting to be talked to. For many years I went by train to Lund for studies, and I used the time for doing my readings. Hide!
We’re supposed to be more connected now than ever and yet, we are not connect to the here and now. There’s always a screen in the way. Lovely post, Ann-Christine, I’m enjoying your weekly showings of your trip to Japan. One of the thing that caught my eye immediately were the power cables, everywhere. Great shot.
Thank you, Sofia – I try to use my photos from Japan as much as I can. I haven’t seen them all yet…2-3000 of them.
That is excellent news!
♥
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I so agree anonut the connection between people now, everything is planned and scheduled, even when seeing friends. Love how you were able to connect your recent trip to this post. Images were ones again beautiful 😻
Thank you, Ritva, happy you liked them. And you know – we can hardly get together a date with our children – everything is scheduled far ahead…
Much food for thought here Leya. So many ways we connect. Personally I love to talk to random strangers, especially when travelling on public transport. But nowadays it is not so easy to start a conversation as so many people go straight to their phones and therefore block out any connection
I totally agree. I love connecting on trains, planes and whatever public transport. But yes, it’s getting harder to reach people with a screen in between. On a plane it is easier, because it takes some time to get everything in place – seize the opportunity then!
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I love the way you have used your recent time in Japan to highlight the connections you found there. A lovely post.
Thank you, Margaret. I still haven’t seen all my pictures yet…so I am in for many surprises and much fun!