Raymond Depardon - Shanghai

Raymond Depardon, Shanghai, China, 2
004

I came across this photograph whilst looking through a book featuring photographic work from Magnum. The photographic agency, Magnum, was founded very shortly after the end of the of the Second World War, by four photographers, Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, George Rodger and David "Chim" Seymour. It has always been heavily concerned with documentary photography and still is.Whilst working for Magnum, Depardon worked with reportage and books.This image was actually used as a cover image for his self titled publication "Depardon" which featured photography from many cities. In this book, it jumps from one city to another and creates a sense of global uniformity. The mobile phone is a strong idea of global togetherness, in that regardless of your location, you are connected to everyone that you need be. In 2004 it wasnt so much the case as phones were still relatively basic, but as mobile technology increases the effect it has on our culture is undeniable. Perhaps if this image were to be taken today we would see the woman looking at her phone using Google maps to find her way, and this changes the way in which we interact with the world around us.