Tethering Presence Tethering Presence captures London street life, with a smartphone visible—or strongly implied—in each shot. It is a series of portraits that explore the emotional, unconscious, and ritualistic habits tied to the presence of smartphones and the human need for connection. Since the rise of the smartphone, society has learned—and continues to learn—how to manage these incredibly powerful, useful, and captivating devices. The book features over 70 candid and striking images taken on the Tube, in backstreets, and in cafés around London—each scene rich with life and subtle detail. It serves as a sensitive social observation, in which Harris frames people and their environments with empathy and attentiveness. Although Harris did not set out to document people using smartphones, a review of his work reveals that nearly every image includes one—either directly or by implication. Curated and designed by Micah Purnell, the book weaves together photography and reflection. Purnell has interspersed the works with specially written truisms that expand on the themes of connection, presence, and digital dependency—adding a poetic and contemplative layer to the visual narrative. Together, these photographs and words reveal how tethered we have become to our devices—almost as if they are extensions of ourselves—in our ongoing search for connection. Micah Purnell, is a text based conceptual artist and graphic designer based in Manchester. Richard Haris, is a portrait and street photographer based in London
