These Photos Bring to Life the Meaning of Work

“To save them, you have to rebuild them by hand.” - Craig, Motorcycle Mechanic

In the 1800s, the Industrial Revolution changed the world as we knew it. Hand production methods shifted to machines, productivity soared and the world became interconnected like never before. Today, we see a similar shift in progress. From self-driving cars and self-service checkout machines to the rise of the shared economy, we find ourselves wondering how these rapid advancements in technology will impact how we work — and more importantly, who works.

We decided to explore this new transition in an artistic way. There is a vast supply of data out there warning of jobs that may soon be rendered irrelevant. That data came to life when we photographed and spoke with the individuals behind the statistics. Most of the workers seemed unfazed by warnings about the future, standing firmly in the belief that what they bring to the table could never be replicated by a machine. The passion and dedication of these workers is inspiring. How will we manage to adapt to revolutionary technologies while still holding on to the humanity that makes us so unique?