Three weeks into the Corona Virus lockdown and I was starting to struggle with my mental health. Away from friends and family, in this weird isolation, I lost my photo mojo and my anxiety and depression were swiftly on the rise. Having barely left the house for 3 weeks even for the recommended daily exercise I eventually forced myself to dust off my mojo, my camera, and my bicycle and get back outside.
I didn't set out to take doorstep portraits, I live by a river and the path runs alongside our local and on the way home going down the street I live my friends were sat out in the sun and the opportunity arose to photograph them.
Due to the current lockdown, our local Yarn bombers had been unable to decorate the footbridge as usual and so everyone decorated their houses instead and our neighbourhood was alive with joy and colour in the midst of a difficult. I shared them on my photography page and our community page on Facebook and suddenly had people requesting me to take theirs too.
I decided to go ahead photographing portraits in my local neighbourhood under strict boundaries to ensure I'd be adhering to all the UK government guidelines regarding daily exercise and social distancing -
* I only take portraits during my hour of daily exercise, in the morning when it is quietest, between 9 and 10am.
* I take the portrait from the opposite side of the street using my zoom lens so I can keep even further than the recommended 2 meters distance.
*I cannot go further afield than 20 minutes of cycling from my home.
*There is no fee and only a small donation requested if able to our local food bank
* I message when I arrive so there is no knocking on doors and I do not set foot on peoples property
Life is still going on albeit changed, there are still occasions to be celebrated right now in our own lives, in our own homes or streets even if for now we are socially and physically distanced.
This project has brought me joy and purpose, I've gotten to know even more members of my community and it's brought them together too and raised some money for our local food bank
The feedback I've had is that it's given people something to look forward to, whether having their portrait taken or just seeing the daily photos.
I shall treasure these photos, these moments that I got to share with people at a social distance. Bright sparks in a time of grief and uncertainty. I hope they will remind us of joy and that what we all share I think is a connection, a celebration of community and ultimately of hope xxB
More info: Facebook
Life in Lockdown - Community Doorstep Portraits
