March 2020. After initial breakouts in China, Corona Virus Covid-19 starts spreading exponentially in Europe and the US. Shelter in place orders are installed and enforced to varying degrees across Nations. The global economy crashes on March 16th.
On March 19th California is ordered to shelter in place which includes myself.
After a few days of confusion I have an idea. The mental hardship stirred up my creativity. I start taking Virtual Portraits of people across the globe via FaceTime, video chats. The people I photograph are everyday people and we talk about the situation in their location, their fears, their plans and we laugh a lot. Because taking these portraits is a team effort, I can’t control the camera. And most people do not have decades of composing photographs under their belt.
I am freed from technical restrictions since I have no control over the quality of the call, exposure or focal length of the lens. The portrait session becomes purely about directing and finding the right moment.
Here is a selection of portraits of Quarantinees from across the globe.
