Whew. What kind of historical moment we are living in, here, right now with the pandemic! I don’t know about you, but I’ve been finding more and more creative ways to explore these days. And, of course, we stay in a lot more. But a global pandemic doesn’t mean putting your photography on hold. In fact, this year might be quite an opportunity to document a once-in-a-lifetime event. And having traveled to several countries over the last few months including Italy, Greece, Sweeden, Germany, and the UK, I’ve been fascinated by all the different signage I’ve come across promoting social distancing and public health. So that’s what I’ve been striving to capture.
Maybe when we look back on the photos of these COVID times, it’ll be a bleak picture of a very difficult year. Or maybe it’ll seem like we were on the cusp of something new, an era we’re not familiar with yet.
No matter what the future holds, you already have everything you need to make the most of your COVID photography and tell an authentic narrative of your life. And if you aren’t able to travel right now, you can still practice your photography using a frequently undocumented subject—your own home and surroundings!
Here are a few thought-starters to light that spark of inspiration:
Follow the Light
Whether your dog catches a sunbeam on the rug at 5pm every day, or your roommate’s reading nook comes with cozy candlelight, the physical light and shadows in our world help us to tell the world about the lights and shadows within us all. Plus, the change of light throughout the seasons can be an excellent way to quickly set a scene as you unlock stories and unusual moments to even the most ordinary of days.
Capture Your Day
Why not capturing a typical day in your life during COVID? Starting with when you first put your foot out of bed, a look in the mirror, waking up your kids, setting up your computer so your 3rd grader can start its online class on time, a snap of your work, (maybe that’s a Skype call on your phone? take a screenshot!), lunch break, a family workout routine (anyone else by any chance following Chloe Ting’s videos?), homework, kids’ playtime, a trip to the supermarket with masks and gloves, parents virtual-aperitifs (we’re having a lot of those with friends across the globe), dinner…
Look at Yourself
Yes, it might feel like we’ve all been looking at ourselves just a little too much lately. But with the easy timers on digital and phone photography, self portraiture has never been easier or more creative. What do you look like from the cat’s point of view? From the mail inside the mailbox?
It’s going to be a hard time. It’s been a hard time. But what is art if not to visually tell stories, stories of good times, hard times, and everything in between? See if you can set a goal for yourself of a few images per day to sharpen your skills and support your spirit.
You might just find yourself in a routine that helps you to rediscover magic within your own home.
Think of Other Eras
Do you remember what it looked like when you first moved into your apartment? Or what your childhood bedroom felt like when you were a child? Jogging those memories for projects and portraits can help you look at your space in a different way.
Love the Photos in this Blog?
Black and white photography is a passion of mine. That’s why I created three (3) FREE black and white presets (also called filters) for Lightroom and Lightroom CC.