Shortly after the shelter-in-place order went into effect on March 16, I invited my students to document their experience through writing, photographs or a combination of both. I never ask of my students anything I’m not willing to do myself, so despite being primarily a landscape photographer and a very private person by nature, I shifted the focus of my camera lens onto my own quarantine experience.
Let’s face it though: a photo essay of a single guy with no kids who’s able to work from the comfort of home seems frivolous and self-indulgent, given all the pain and suffering in the world because of coronavirus and the resulting economic distress. Life for me has been a cakewalk compared to family and friends who are juggling work, homeschooling, taking care of young children, and managing a household.
But the history teacher in me couldn’t resist a chance to document these unusual times; the writer and artist within wanted to create something that might help me make sense of the moment. And while I’ve had it relatively easy, going through a period of self-isolation in a household of one has its own challenges, even for introverts like me. There’s value in everyone’s story—the collective experience and the singular life—and I believe each of us has a tale to tell. This is a snapshot of mine. Maybe it will encourage you to share yours?
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