The Stasi - walls have ears...

This may be the result of too much sun yesterday afternoon... but I was reading about the old GDR (former East Germany) intelligence service, the Stasi, and how they employed friends, family members and work colleagues to spy on one another - at the peak of the Stasi's activities, there was one Stasi informant per 6.8 head of the population!

I got to wondering if I could capture this in a photo (definitely too much sun... or the wine that I was drinking) and this is the result. At first glance, you don't even notice the eavesdropper, and when you do, he is looking away out of picture and seems to not even know you are there... but his ear is turned your way.

[Tom]

Very cool, nice textures, interesting photo and wall

[Daryl O'Hare]

Wow, it took me really aback when my eye trailed along the wall. Nicely done!

[Joan Robillard]

This is when photography is really fun. Trying to bring a concept to a photograph. Funny how it invades are whole life. I can now tell you what a red cardinal sounds like because when one was calling the other day I looked up and then I sort of put it in my memory so when I hear it I can photograph it. No wine here either. If I'm reading and they describe an area or something, I think how I'd like to photograph it.

[Joan Robillard]

Are there photograph nerds?

[Richard Sayer]

@joansmor Oh, there definitely are Joan! Me, I'm black or white... no shades of grey with me. So if I do something, it's balls out or not at all... which I think qualifies me for life membership of Nerds Anonymous - when's the next meeting by the way?

[Joan Robillard]

@vignouse ROFL If it's at my place I made blueberry biscuits for supper.

[Khawbecker]

Great perspective and a little creepy, but I like it. :)

[Julie Cortens]

Very interesting! Enjoyed the history. I guess I am a photo nerd too. Or maybe just obsessed with photography.

[Mark Pratt]

Excellent shot, great back story. The shot really fits.

[Graeme Stevens]

Very cool shot, along with the history, like this a lot

[Trinda Love]

After reading your story, the picture becomes a bit disturbing. In Moscow they say every third person is KGB. At least they said that to me in 1991

[Margaret Obey]

The face made me jump, wonderful concept . Fav

[Fisher Family]

A fascinating take on the idea of walls having ears!

Ian

[Rachel]

How cool, great shot, love the pov and how that face just jumps from the wall!

[Lee]

It is rather a surprise when suddenly you see the head, Clever shot Richard.

[Linda]

Walls have ears! Great interpretation of what you were reading about.

[David]

Brilliant idea, brilliantly executed! I love the lines the composition and the textures… I would like it even without the head, but of course the head makes this shot so special. Fav!