Artist of the Month: Photographing the Tech Effect

Photographer Meryl Spiegel is concerned about technology’s effect on personal communication. Her latest photography series, “PHANTOMS,” puts isolation into image.

The photographs portray ghostly images of a person in motion. Their form is visible, but the individual is invisible. The imagery is an analogy for the way people speak to each other through virtual communication (Facebook, texting, email, etc.) instead of connecting face-to-face, said Spiegel.

“I feel that faxing, emailing and texting are eroding our real communication and our ability to spend time together,” Spiegel said.

Spiegel contends that communication using current technology alone alienates people from each other instead of fostering connection. Sending a quick text or posting a Facebook or Twitter message creates the illusion communication is taking place while actual connections may be fraying, she said.   

“Instead of creating social networks, it appears that converse is taking place,” Spiegel wrote in her artist statement. “We seem to be coexisting with people without really seeing or knowing them.”

The idea to make photographs as a visual commentary on the disintegration of human connections took hold in Barcelona, Spain while visiting her daughter in college. Not knowing anyone else in the city, Spiegel found herself surrounded by people but feeling invisible and disconnected.

“People were moving so fast and didn’t have time to speak to each other or notice anyone around them,” she said.

So Spiegel took her camera out and began making images. The photographs for “PHANTOMS” were made in four cities: Barcelona, Spain; Paris, France; Miami, FL and New York, NY. Each image contains a single blurred figure set in a cityscape. She hopes to continue the series with images made in Los Angeles, CA.

“PHANTOMS” is a new leap for Spiegel, she said. Her early images were street photography and photographs in a documentary style. After moving to East Quogue in 1991, her subject matter shifted to the landscapes she was now surrounded by.

Her latest series merges both genres while include her new interests. "PHANTOMS” photographs are set in cities. Capturing the surroundings is an important part of the composition as in landscapes. Softer compositions reflect Spiegel’s new path of following her imagination and moving into the fine art arena.

“The photographs are a combination of environment, people and dreamscapes,” Spiegel said. “The photographs are becoming dreamy and imaginative. I’m taking more risks.”

Since “PHANTOMS” is also social commentary, Spiegel hopes viewers will consider if relying on technology alone to communicate with others is cultural progression or causing fragmentation of society.

"People are so enamored with emailing and the next iPad, iPhone and all the gadgets and don’t stop to think about the reasons why or what they’re doing with them,” she said. “I feel like people are disappearing. I feel like I’m disappearing. Are there really people behind the messages or is it just me and my stupid computer? The pace is exponentially increasing to the millionth degree. What’s next? I can’t change it but I’d like people to think about it.”

Selections from “PHANTOMS” were exhibited this summer at Art Sites. Her photographs have been shown at Galerie BelAge, East End Arts, the Quogue Library and more.