Listening with the back…

When standing with the back turn towards someone, how do we know if they are listening? How does not knowing this alter our activities, presence and perhaps also relationship to the back-standing-people? Does it matter? How may we listen with our backs?

Backs of people standing next to the inner waters of Copenhagen Harbour. The people in the photo are performance students (actors) during a philosophical wondering course.

In what ways does the listening with the back affect the taking of a photograph? Does it affect? In what ways are the photograph attempting to capture the ‘listening situation’ rather than the ‘viewable situation’?