The Impact of Smartphones on Human Behaviour
This photomontage is a comment on modern phone use—especially how it absorbs attention and reshapes behaviour.
The two young men standing upright are both completely focused on their smartphones. They’re isolated against a dark, almost empty background, which strips away context and makes their posture and gaze the main focus. Neither is engaging with the other or their surroundings; their attention is entirely captured by their screens.
In contrast, the foreground shows a much larger, close-up pair of hands gripping a phone horizontally (thanks to Hazuan Hashim). I wanted the hands to dominate the frame, almost like they represent a more powerful force. It feels less like a person holding a device and more like the device controlling the person. The large hands imply that users are being “handled” or controlled by their devices or by the digital environments inside them.
The figures are physically present but mentally elsewhere. There’s no interaction between them, hinting at social isolation despite proximity.
Perhaps smartphones aren’t just tools we use—they can dominate our attention, isolate us from others, and subtly control how we behave. I wanted the muted tones and dark background to create an ominous mood, reinforcing the idea that this isn’t just neutral technology use but something potentially all consuming and problematic.
Perhaps smartphones aren’t just tools we use—they can dominate our attention, isolate us from others, and subtly control how we behave.
You can buy a signed copy of my latest photo book here
Watch The Photographer – a short film about the photography of Phil Maxwell:
Exploring Global Markets: A Street Photography Journey
Today, I’m taking you on a journey through shops and markets from around the world. We begin in 2017 with a shopkeeper standing outside his store in Melaka, Malaysia—a UNESCO World Heritage city I’ve returned to photograph many times.
From there, we head to London Road in Liverpool, a fantastic spot for street photography, full of character and fascinating people.
Next, we dive into the energy of a lively night market in Melaka from 2018, followed by a glimpse of a stallholder in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2019. We then step back in time to 2004, exploring market stalls in Paris and an old shop in Marrakech.
Finally, we wrap up in 2019 with the vibrant shopping scene on Roman Road in East London—another of my favourite street photography haunts.
It’s all about capturing those rich cultural moments and the spirit of everyday commerce at street level.
You can buy a signed copy of my latest photo book here
Watch The Photographer – a short film about the photography of Phil Maxwell:
Photography Across Five Cities
You can buy a signed copy of my latest photo book here
Watch The Photographer – a short film about the photography of Phil Maxwell:
East London Through the Lens: 1980s Photographs
You can buy a signed copy of my latest photo book here
The Low Paid Keep The World Moving
I’ve long been drawn to early 20th-century avant-garde photomontage—especially Dada works by Hannah Höch and John Heartfield. Their sharp critiques of capitalism and fascism continue to resonate.
This digital photomontage based around three seperate images of workers moving goods on hand trolleys. I’ve combined them to relate their physical effort to a broader economic truth using both composition and symbolism.
Symbolically, the overloaded trolley becomes a metaphor for the global system—commerce, consumption, infrastructure—all of it literally being pushed forward by underpaid workers. The precarious angle suggests instability: the system depends on these workers, yet burdens them to a point that looks unsustainable. This isn’t a single moment or specific place, but a recurring reality across many societies.
I’ve tried to highlight the disconnect between the essential nature of low-paid work and its lack of recognition or reward under capitalism. I’m inviting the viewer to reconsider who actually “carries” modern life—and at what cost. During the pandemic key workers were praised as heroes but are now demonised by mainstream media if they dare to go on strike fore better pay and conditions.
You can buy a signed copy of my latest photo book here
