Reflect On
Since posting last here I have managed to travel half way round the world and back and while on the trip I snapped quite a few photos that, looking back on, I like quite a lot and want to share! During this trip I caught myself shooting in portrait more than I ever had before so I leaned into it a bit with the intention of making a new zine/book of the images as a collection but that will take time and money to pull together so no announcements yet. Just chipping away at editing and pooling together my favorites for that.
In the mean time I am looking around photos that I could share as wallpaper images, do people still look for and use wallpapers for their computers even? Ive been in this game a long time and I sort of feel a shift away from that fun dig around online for new images for digital workspaces but I could be wrong, who knows. Im still here and I still think this is a fun way to share photographs so why not right? I may make a pack of wallpapers from this trip but I may start trickling them out here one at a time, we’ll see how it plays out as I make time to start digging into my library.
My biggest problem right now is still the act of trying to find enough confidence to share much of anything online. It feels like the older I get, the more alienated I feel within the online world. A lot of it has to do with its shifting focus and our lack of attention as trends in social media have moved to quick, rapid engagement. The tiny spike of adrenaline we get as images zip past our eyes for a few seconds and, like a slot machine, we pull down for more, and more, and more, until time and thought mean not much of anything. We blink. and look up from our phones with that dazed, cloudy look in our eyes, and try to focus on reality.
Places like this, full of words and a commitment to more than 5 seconds of time feel daunting to many in comparison. So, if you’re here, and you made it this far, hi! How have you been? The photo above was taken on a little island in Korea which is only accessible by car during low tide. The road heading to it is a long skinny one that ends up fully underwater as the ocean rises up. No warning, no gates, just a road that slowly disappears. The island itself seems to be largely dedicated to campsites, small hotels, and a million seafood restaurants which all have greeters out by the road to entice every car that passes to park and come in for lunch. Its kitschy and fun and I kind of wish we had more time to wander around and explore while we were there.
I look forward to sharing more here as time goes on, I still want to release the album mentioned on my previous hope post and I think I have the nerve to do it sooner than later and I also have been sitting on some 50ft Radio mixes for what feels like years now? Where on earth does the time go? See you again soon.
(Note: “iPad” link below is good for any mobile device, cropped to a simple square.)
Just wanted to say thanks for all your write-ups and photos! Been a fan for a while and I too am still here. I used to live in Korea also so there’s a part of me that can always relate to some of the things you have seen. Your photographic style had a big influence on my photography also. Also wanted to say don’t feel bad about your confidence, I feel like I always feel less confident when I don’t do something and feel better when I do. I think in times like the past couple of years the world has gotten a lonely in way and sharing helps us all.
I’m still using your ”Japan Wallpaper Pack” and would love another like it.
It’s always nice to see a post and images from you, John! I don’t know why you might be apprehensive about sharing your work – quality and passion are always present in what you do. And Fifty Foot Shadows is your personal corner of the internet, where you are free to adhere to your own standards of art, craft, and connection. Why care about what other people think of how you decorate your own home? And you have much to be proud of, at any rate.
I’m very old school, and I am not hounded by Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok, or Facebook feeds. I like the quiet places that I can visit and enjoy art and reflections – such as your own site. (I’m so old school that I still have an active Blog, that is 19 years old.) The internet and the world are very messy, nasty, superficial, and depressing places, so let’s not be shy about preserving our slower, more thoughtful, more personal, and more beautiful oases on the internet.
I do confess that I don’t use wallpapers anymore. But I still love to see your photos!
I must’ve followed your blog for your photography for like 10 years now and it can be hard to find desktop wallpapers that come close to yours regarding consistent style and quality—pleasant to look at and not so busy as to not see the icons. I particularly like the way you capture lighting moods and details, and I suppose it had an influence on my own photography as well. Granted, the need for desktop wallpapers may be somewhat reduced these days what with the prevalence of mobile gadgets, but I’d still be one to appreciate it.
Sent from my laptop on my desk at home
Been following and reading your blog for so long that I can still remember it from before the page remodel. I keep coming back because of the great writing, and wallpapers.P.S my co-workers always comment how unique and amazing my backgrounds are so Thanks!
But honestly I can’t say how much I enjoy getting to have a space away from all the Social media. I remember pages that weren’t owned by corporations filled with ads, trends, and marketing.I don’t know so well how to find them anymore but I am glad to still be able to come here. I really do appreciate that you share these places and your great perspective through your photographs. Keep being a blessing for all those here and sharing this special place with us.
I absolutely love your photo of Korea. sounds like a great spot. Sorry your motivations have changed a bit posting online. Tik-tok and youtube are changing people’s attention. Keep going!! We like reading these posts!
Also loving your photos. Have been reading for over 10 years, so you should not be ashamed ever for your high quality work. As one stated above, you have very high concistency in style and expression.
Love your work, and please keep going :)
Also sent from laptop at desk.
It has been quite a while since the last time I was here. After the Covid, I started picking up forgotten habits. And one of those habits was visiting your blog for wallpaper. I used to visit your blog quite frequently but as time goes on, old habits make way for the new ones. It is the nostalgia that brings back the memories.
I’m glad you are still here, updating your blog and sharing new wallpaper. Your blog will always have a spot in me. It has always been for the most for my 20s.
Thank you!
“… do people still look for and use wallpapers for their computers even?” Yes, and particularly some of yours. Allow me to explain. For my mobile and handheld devices (phones, phablets, tablets, and computers) I steadfastly prefer blurred, or blur-able, images so that icons and folder (names) and widgets seem to “float” above the background. After discovering your photos for a gf’s new iPad, I started using yours for Android wallpaper, using a third party launcher that would scroll the background slightly with sliding home screens. A gifted developer even worked on a free “curated art” wallpaper app that incorporated adjustable options for both blurring the image, and reducing the color saturation, which I loved. (Double-tapping the screen could bring the image in to original sharp appearance, or launch the app’s display of the image.
Years later, using an iPhone (sort or against my will, as a work-provided phone), I’m again using some of your images which are blurry, or partially blurred subjects. Nothing else that Apple provided came close, UNTIL the little floating color bubbles — but those are limited in choice, and frankly boring. Enough of your blurry pics offer choices for spring, summer, fall, and winter.
I’m back looking to see if you’ve added more … both in higher resolutions for my 3440×1440 working monitor, or even for UHD sizes to display in a rotating gallery on my OLED TV. So … YES, sir, people do still look for wallpapers for their computers, not to mention other devices when pleasing, calming, creative imagery can help personalize and even tame the otherwise sterile appearance of technical screens. Please, continue snapping pics and letting us share the joy of some of your creations.
Popping in at random to say I hope you are well! I spent several pleasant minutes this morning wandering through the Fifty Foot Shadows folder in my wallpaper library (pursuant to my ~monthly compulsion to rotate my cross-device wallpaper set). Still and always some of my favorite specimens of photography. Even if it’s one post per year, I’ll be grateful and I’ll still be here. (I follow this site’s RSS feed via Feedly, so I shan’t miss a thing.)