The pandemic photos from A Year With My Camera
On 9 January 2020 5,726 beginner photographers opened their first “A Year With My Camera” email. We had no idea what was about to happen. Only 8 weeks later the team behind AYWMC would be debating whether we could teach landscape photography to students sheltering at home, and how long kitchen-table still life would retain its novelty. Words we had never used before became commonplace – “furlough”, “dexamethasone”, “R number”. New words appeared – “coronacoaster”, “covidiot”, “doomscrolling”, “Blursday”.
Online photography lessons become normal
We really were ready for lockdown before it was even a thing. We’ve been teaching photography online for four solid years and have tens of thousands of success stories to prove it. We pivoted quickly to adapt every lesson to one which could be done from home and many thousands more students found the weekly lesson a welcome fixed-point every Thursday as the days all merged into one.
I (Emma) would like to thank every single AYWMC student who started or finished in 2020 for their unrelenting positivity this year. It would have been easy to give up or to whine about the changed circumstances. But the spirit of doing what we have, where we are, with what we’ve got (thanks Theodore) meant not only did the community “get through” a dreadful year, we got through it together. Anyone having a tough time had a place to share. Anyone completely losing their phojo (photo mojo) could say so without fear of judgment. And through it all, step by step, everyone moved confidently from auto mode to off-auto, started to think about their composition, began to notice the light and could use their camera effectively to document their year.
Photos from the pandemic year
Here are some of the photos that could only have been taken in 2020 from AYWMC students. Copyright remains with each student and the images may not be copied or reproduced.
No visitors allowed in the residential home because of COVID. One way to communicate with grandma is through the window, it’s better than nothing, but you don’t get the hug. - Margaret Wright
I noticed this wall on one of my many local walks during the lockdown. I usually get a bit cross about graffitti but for once i was actually mesmerised by it. i think it brought it home to me about how the pandemic has affected everyone from the small child to adults and the impact of it on us all. - Jane Tyrer
This was taped to the pavement outside a small M&S Simply Food Store on the first day the high street shops were allowed to re -open after the full 3 month covid lockdown. - Robert Owen
Our village was so quiet, this road is normally busy with children going to school. The lady who lives next to the school, inspired by rainbow paintings, decided to paint some stones, she then left some stones, a sign and some lollipops at her gate and so the Bishopton stone snake was born! Adults and children, young and old participated, some excellent and creative, some very basic. Rainbows, hearts, words, poems, names, bees, butterflies, ladybirds, flowers, all sorts! It ran along her wall, round the corner then along the school railing for 60 or 70 metres, hundreds of stones, all shapes and sizes. It brought some community spirit at a time when nothing was happening and also a steady stream of socially distancing walkers passing to check the progress and creativeness of the snake. - Janice Boyce
Washington, DC based artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg created a expansive memorial of white flags to mourn the increasing number of Americans who have died of Covid-19. Each flag represents a death. Some have written the name of a loved who has perished. - Roland Fabia
I haven’t been to the barbers since February! Now, OK, I don’t have much hair and I didn’t pay much for a hair cut but I reckon the pandemic has saved me £50 in trips to the barbers. I’ll put the savings to a good cause and donate to a charity for which I’m a trustee: Homestart-Leeds, which does a great job helping families with young children throughout the pandemic. - John Tebbet
A lockdown visit to my Daughter and her children not forgetting the dog. At the time I thought at least we will spend Christmas together. The youngest granddaughter loved her Peter Rabbit, but apparently cried afterwards as she could not have a cuddle from me. - Frances Woolnough
During lockdown the gym where I work created an app for virtual workouts, our local membership is more like a community and they wanted to app to appeal to all and include a variety of subjects. I was asked to look for and photograph interesting signs thanking the NHS. I found this which I thought was a very colourful and creative use of rosettes. - June Wilson
Escaping from the moment of Covid restrictions and taking myself back to my childhood; having fun and getting messy creating this very poignant message. - Michael George
I have used the surgical mask for over 3 decades in my profession to protect others and myself from infection transmission in clinical settings, but never in my dreams did I think it would become a global symbol of protection in a way it was never supposed to be. We put the mask on the Halloween decoration to symbolize that this year has become one of the scariest in our life time. - Nasir Saeed
My mum had been sewing Christmassy scrubs hats for us to wear at work and make it a bit more cheerful and seasonal. I took a selfie to send to her so she could see her creation in use. - Claire Greener
Travelling on a westbound Central line from Epping. It should have been picking up passengers going into London, throughout my 20 minutes journey no one got on, this was at the beginning of October 2020. - Lynn Saunders
In November I visited Himley Hall for a walk and to take some photos but it was closed and being set up for COVID testing. Now it is open and they have sectioned off a part for a drive through testing station. Lots of officials in yellow jackets and barriers to keep us safe. - Teresa Le Jeune
This was the scene at my local grocery store during the shutdown in April in Fargo, North Dakota, USA. I was stunned. Shoppers had panicked and bought up all the toilet paper and other paper goods. Hoarders are doing it again now during the holidays in December. - Katherine Meiners
Throughout the year, Bath Street would usually be thronged with tourists and shoppers. At this particular time of year, it would normally have lots of "German Market" chalets and be full of visitors, even in the day time. I hope I'll never see it like this again. - Judith White
People helping each other is how I will remember 2020, although in a small community, this is always the case. I’m retired, but one of the guys gave up work to help with our mate’s outside DIY project. I would add, we had finished the job and were enjoying a “tea” break. - Michael Black
This was taken on one of our daily walks, each day after home schooling we’d go out for a long walk to get some fresh air. This was taken whilst having a little rest on the way up the hill looking out over our village. We managed to watch the fields go from being drilled in the spring to being harvested in the autumn, that illustrates how much precious time we had at home together. - Nicki Yeatman
Online photography lessons
If you’re reading this late 2020 or early 2021, it’s not over. Join our online community of beginner photographers and not only will you get off-auto but you’ll find a place to forget about the pandemic for a while. The course is free by email (join below) and the community is accessed via an app, currently £4.99 for a year’s subscription (details in the email). See you there.
