PHOTOGRAPHING IN TIMES OF CORONA

The RPS Benelux Chapter 2021 THEME

COVID-19

These photos and SOI’s could be the start of a bigger project and what about making a panel for a possible Associate Distinction?

Carol wrote for this Theme in one of our

newsletters “It could not be avoided after such a long time in Lock-Down during 2020 and 2021, so it seemed appropriate to consider using this as our yearly theme. Many of us where very isolated, not taking photos, so to encourage a positivity, why not see how we could interpret what was happening into a photographic view?”

So, starting with a Statement of Intent, the below ideas were put: • What you have seen on your walks • The feeling you have • Subjects you normally don't photograph, like flower macros or insects found in your back garden or landscapes, cityscapes etc. • Inside your home • Observations or documentary style photos about Covid-19 in your town or city

LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN FREE

The aim of this Theme is to also write your Statement of Intent (SOI), this is just as important as your photos, if not the most important. Keep it short and simple. No more than 50 words at this stage, just a few sentences.

ALL MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE

During our Study Group Zoom Sessions every three weeks, we saw many faces from everywhere including non-RPS Members. With the RPS strategy in mind, it seemed correct to include everyone for this theme.

Our June Study Group session was about ‘Photographing in Times of Corona’ and we looked at the first results. Very impressive!

The following pages are the results and we are happy to see a large number of you have sent in your work. These photos and SOI’s could be the start of a bigger project and what about making a panel for a possible Associate Distinction?

© Carol Olerud FRPS

Going outside just before curfew in the darkness to capture light in homes. Are people sitting there? Do they see me? A bit of voyeurism for sure. Photographing like this was out of my comfort zone, risking being caught and capturing my mood.

Ten to Ten

Just like everyone, lockdown dramatically affected my family, friends and local community. We were isolated, keeping our distance from each other. Despite all the restrictions my community found new ways of connecting, meeting, working, and celebrating. Slowly the restrictions are being lifted and life is returning to a new normal.

Birthday party

Wear a F mask

The fear of the virus Covid-19 dominated the world. My head was almost bursting with images that I wanted to photograph. Everyone made images of people but I used the pears as a symbol of the world's population. For me, these three items tell the whole story. 1. social distance 2. medical service under stress 3. redemption by the vaccine

Michaelangelo Covid

During the coronavirus pandemic I visited columbaria and made small series about objects that were left behind after the urns had been removed. Inspired by a text suggested by Hector Epelbaum ARPS. “We bury love; Forgetfulness grows over it like grass: That is a thing to weep for, not the dead.”

Alexander Smith

I adhered to the rules of the 1,5 meter society during the Corona lock-down and bought an electric bicycle. Cycling through my own living environment, I rediscovered the Alblasserwaard. With my compact camera Fujifilm X100F always in my bicycle bag, I have recorded my wonders of my own residential area.

I am a journeyman photographer, mostly wandering around cities - making images when ever and where ever I can - if something catches my eye then I photograph it! Empty streets just make things a little more difficult!

During the first lockdown March 2020, my photography was limited to what I could see from my balcony. Cancelled hospital appointments, diagnosis uncertainties, and not knowing how covid-19 would affect my illness, meant I would go outside purely for exercise only. Contact with people was kept to a minimum.

Corona was a unique experience for everyone. Never before did we have to change our lives so quickly and drastically. We found a solution for not being able to hold each other. Following lessons meant sleeping a bit longer and on the street the mouth cap made breathing sometimes difficult.

During this pandemic, I became more aware of my immediate surroundings. My loved ones, my house, my garden.

The dozens of wild orchids (protected from the mowing machine since last year) became a photographic subject.

The bizarre shapes, colours and complexity gave me these photos, which I also used in a garden exhibition.

Pages 122-123 | 6/11, 7/11 and 2/11