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Hello all! I've migrated over from my old blog because I've figured that I want to put my past behind me (see: some of the old posts are just plain shameful) and to let me start on a new photo project.

Now, I think I've kind of acquired some kind of study burnout of the brain, and as a result I tend to be reduced to a gibbering mass of organic chemistry mumbling something vague about enjoying photography as a hobby when people ask me what I enjoy doing in my spare time. Of course, due to my upcoming A-levels, I have not had the opportunity to shoot much.

As such, I have decided to take on the 365 photo-a-day project, with special allowances for exams and last minute cramming. Accompanying each photopost will be a short photo essay revolving around a vague theme as well. (this is of course, provided that I feel up to writing. If not, your all going to have to make do with photos, I'm afraid. One is a thousand words after all.)

Todays theme will be about confinement. I have been pretty cooped up the past few days to study, and the results have not been pretty. Its actually quite interesting to see how people are naturally attuned to wanting some form of social interaction; I have found myself checking my phone every half an hour, prowling twitter every morning and evening, and of course, poking around facebook every now and then as well.

This of course begs the question: How does one become so disgusted by such social activities until they would want to live as hermits? If anything, most people on the net and around the world want the exact opposite of hermitude. They want to have an eternal connection with everything around them. Sure, living alone by yourself in the mountains seems to have a bit of that old, fairytale charm. No irritating workmates, no incessant need for communication, and most importantly, no other standards besides your own that you have to live up to. That last bit seems mighty appealing to me, but at what price?

I would be by myself. No one to talk to. No physical human, contact. Some studies speculate that some infants die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) because some of the babies had little, or no contact or interaction with any parent. Its also common knowledge that neglected children tend to grow up to have mental problems. As do grown-up game addicts. So what about hermits? Do they suffer mentally too?

Actually when I think about it, even though we are all so connected, we are all in our own way a modern kind of hermit too. We may tweet, and post statuses on walls, and maybe when we are feeling really connected, maybe even organise an outing for all our real-world friends via facebook. And yet, families keep less in touch, and friends drift apart faster than you can blink. We throw ourselves across the world in the pursuit of jobs or education, and most of us have great faith in keeping contact electronically. When, may I ask, was the last time you saw an old school friend in the flesh? MSNing or Skyping them does not count.

This is all getting rather depressing now, actually. Right then, I'm off to clean my cave and go get my hermit rations of shoots and nuts (Urgh.). Goodnight internet and all my electronic friends.