Something Old...Something New is a photograph by Connie Handscomb which was uploaded on January 24th, 2015.
Something Old...Something New
This red telephone booth is easily recognizable as an icon of England. With the development of new technologies,the kiosk is becoming unnecessary as... more
Title
Something Old...Something New
Artist
Connie Handscomb
Medium
Photograph - Photography - Fine Art
Description
This red telephone booth is easily recognizable as an icon of England. With the development of new technologies,the kiosk is becoming unnecessary as a public telephone serivce. The booths are still around,although it is not known for how much longer: modernization initiatives are transforming each of them into a solar mobile phone recharge oasis, the 'current red' colour with a luxuriant fresh green.
The booth was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The red was chosen because it was a colour easy to spot. A crown insignia representing the British government was placed prominently on the upper portion of the booth in 1926. The booths were designated as "K" (Kiosk) series and numbered consecutively each time a design was updated. There is only one K1 booth left; it dates back to 1925 (prior to Sir Scott's award to redesign the UK Post Office's kiosk design).The K2 prototype is outside the Royal Academy of Arts, London [see my image ...]
While the green replacements are practical for our current age, I have a soft spot for the red booths: nostalgic moments of times past. During 1980's, privitized BT replaced the red booths with silver metal boxes less appealing aesthetically. Only 2000 red booths remain. Fortunately they were listed as 'buildings', with the intent that they remain in place.
Old, too, is the schooner reflected in the glass of the telephone booth - which happened to be on The Thames at the time this image was taken.
In the background, look to the pyramidal glass skyscraper : the tallest in the European Union (as of this writing) is visible. It was opened in 2012, with 87 floors to its spire in height - some 1014 ft high/309 metres - 72 floors of which are habitable.
* ------------------------ *
♥ Heartfelt Gratitude to FAA groups for featuring this image :
London Photography
Pleasing The Eye
* ------------------------ *
Uploaded
January 24th, 2015
More from Connie Handscomb
Comments (13)
AnnaJo Vahle
They are fun to see. I love your description, too. Neat to see your reflection in the window. Fabulous subject, Connie. f/l
Connie Handscomb replied:
I'm not in the reflection .. but there are some masts from large sailboats that were on the Thames; glad you like this , thank you very much! :)))
Connie Handscomb
Thank you, too, Mark for featuring this image in London Photography; much appreciate :))
Sandra Sengstock-Miller
Great to see they are still surviving in England. I used one everyone morning to ring back home when I was in London. Australia got rid of their red boxes many years ago. I do wonder how long England's will last with everyone nearly have a mobile phone. A great capture and notes. L/F Sandy
Connie Handscomb replied:
These will be around for a while .. {2,000 anyway} ; I don't want to see them go either ; thank you Sandra for your support here ;)))
Linda Lees
It's great that these iconic phone boxes are being re purposed. I hadn't heard of them being transformed into charging stations but I had heard of some being used as a book swapping station. Terrific capture Connie.
Connie Handscomb replied:
Book swapping stations are great ideas, too, Linda, yes! glad you like this .. I'm glad some of them will be around for a while :))
Jerry Bokowski
Connie, Very few public phones exist any more in Tuscon...There are just empty booths devoid of phones as a reminder of changing times. Nothing like this blast from the past though. Excellent capture and story as always! FAV Jerry
Connie Handscomb replied:
Looking over to the commentary on the side, Jerry .. I guess there's a lot to read there, Lol.. oh my ... ; maybe Tucson can take a hint from London, pretty them up & use them as recharge stations ... or plant flowers in them :)))
Andrew Hunter
cool
Connie Handscomb replied:
Thanks, Andrew! .. & Hello! .. in 'real time' :))) {I didn't know about the "K' series until I began to research these boxes ... great idea to declare these as 'buildings' so they can't be removed ; the silver ones aren't striking in appeal as the red }
Recently Viewed
