What a crazy 7 weeks!
A time where toilet paper caused fights in shopping centres.
A time that threw my head into a spin and caused me to experience so many different emotions over such a short period.
A time where all our jobs were cancelled or postponed.
A time where we didn’t even know what we were going to do or even if our business was going to survive.
In the beginning at least, I tried to be strong but one simple question – “how are you going?” – was enough for the brain to just go OMG “not good” and cried.
The reality of Covid-19’s effects on us and a country poised to go on lockdown was sinking in. The world we once knew had changed.
Keeping our family safe was of utmost importance to us.
At this time I had seen photographers from around the world creating “Front Porch Portraits”. Photos of families in their front yards. Taken with a long lens from a large distance away. This excited me – I was missing my camera, the interaction and the creation.
So Front Yard Portraits were brought here – I asked a few people around my area if they would be interested and photographed them but that didn’t seem enough… I saw other photographers do it too, but all with a different agenda. Some for crazy theatrical cosplay styled shoots, some to stay in business, some simply for the love. I found myself leaning towards a documentary approach and wanted to add something to the photographs I was taking.
I knew everyone would be going through this situation, and it would be different for each person and I wanted to know what was their new reality.
I decided to ask if they would be willing to share their thoughts and experiences – I didn’t really have a plan so I just asked a stack of questions. They could answer just a few; some answered them all.
Not only was I able to capture a beautiful photo for each family, these photos will be a record of where they were during this time, what they were going through and how they felt about it all.
I have collected some very real and honest thoughts and stories. And am still collecting them. This would have to be one of the most exciting projects that I have ever endeavoured to do and it’s still growing. I hope to do it justice.
On my to-do list during this time is improving my writing skills. So, no better place than here.
Perfection paralysis has stopped me doing so much previously – so this post may not be perfect but I am at least starting….
Anna xo
