“Civilization, the orderly world in which we live, is frail. We are skating on thin ice.” – Zygmunt Bauman.

For the last several years, when people have asked me what I study, I have told them that I study the end of the world.

As you can imagine, it’s the sort of answer that results in rather mixed responses. When this first became my stock answer, quite a few years ago, it was generally met with either polite laughter, a barely concealed rolling of the eyes, or a swift change of the subject. Unfortunately, in recent years, when I’ve told people that I study the end of the world the responses have shifted away from polite derision and towards people quietly asking “how long do you think we have left?” If I had to pinpoint the exact moment that this shift began to take place I’d have to point to…

There is a chance that this page took quite a while to load. Or that this particular site is now taking longer to load than it did in the past. There’s also a chance that it loaded at the same rate as it normally does, but that this time next week it will be loading much slower. There’s even a chance that this site has been blocked – which raises the question of how you’re even reading it. Of course, there’s a chance that it’s loading at the same rate that it normally loads because you’ve signed on, through your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for some manner of expensive package that this site is somehow lumped in with. And, there is also the chance that you have come to this site from one of the countries in the world where it’s already common for some sites to load more slowly…

Please welcome first-time contributor James, a long-term sufferer of mental illness from London who was recently diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. James believes in the power of talking and that it’s linked with bringing awareness and healing to the sufferer. He is open about his dealings with mental illness and tries to subtly carry this visual into his work. He is a creative person and dipped his toes into many facets including music, film and creative writing before settling into photography. James is a plumber by day who lives with his wife, daughter, cat & dog.

About this photo: “This image is from a recent photoshoot I did entitled ‘Disconnect’.
I wanted to bring to life how I feel every day; disconnected from humanity and at times afraid of people and wanting to be left alone. But also the intrigue and desire to be included in society, even though my…

When new technologies are unveiled the conversation is usually dominated by excited comments regarding all of the things for which these newfangled devices or platforms will be good. This new smartphone will be better for taking pictures than any phone to have come before it, this social media platform will make it even easier to share things with your friends and family, this Internet of Things home assistant will make it a snap to order groceries, and the list goes on. New technologies invite would be users to think of what those devices will do for them, but rarely ask the same users to consider what those devices will do to them. Yet, what is often missing from the discussion of all of the ways in which a given technology is good, is a serious consideration of the ways in which this technology impacts our conception of the good.

According…

Photo taken by contributor Kyle Anderson, a man from Saskatchewan, Canada. Kyle has struggled with an anxiety disorder for most of his life. After a traumatic accident ended his career in health care, his life became unmanageable and he sought out the help that he so desperately needed. As a longtime photographer, when he found Broken Light Collective in an article it instantly resonated. He now runs a photography program at his local mental health association. He has since become a certified mental health peer specialist and advocate. He also writes local editorial and uses his platform to help erase the stigma of mental illness in his community.

About this photo: “There’s been so many changes for me, both good and bad, that it can be hard to take a breath. Let alone actually comprehend it all. In looking for something that captures what I feel, I keep coming back to…