Lockdown portraits

I had a great time this last month shooting over 30 #lockdown #portraits of people on my street. I’ve now run out of volunteers so it’s time to collate the photos and put together a little booklet as a memory of this strange time. I’ll be asking for donations for the booklet and all the proceeds will be going to the NHS. On to the next project...

#suffolkphotographer

#cambridgeshirephotographer

#essexphotographer

#norfolkphotogrpaher

#burystedmunds 

#locationphotography

#portraitphotography

#suffolk

#essex

#norwich

#cambridge

#ipswich

#cambridgeshire

#lockdown

#familyportraits

#lifeinlockdown

#sonyA7iii

#sony

#profotoA1

#profoto

Shot with @sonyalpha A7iii & @profotoglobal A1

Lockdown Portrait #32

Lockdown Portrait #32, Melanie & Guy Lesser. “Despite lockdown we have really enjoyed the warm weather, our garden and walking Kandy our American Cocker Spaniel around the town, a surreal experience when the streets were so quiet. Guy has been out on his bike experiencing the Suffolk countryside at its best. Catching up with friends and family and playing quizzes via Zoom has been a new experience. Clapping for the NHS on Thursdays  has meant we have had a chance to speak to and meet many more of our neighbours. We have both learnt new skills such as dog clipping, bread making and wisteria pruning. We are delighted to be now back on the golf course, playing with friends at a social distance. Unfortunately, our daughter Olivia’s wedding to Luke has had to be rearranged from this year to June 2021, but it gives us more time to work on the speeches and our waistlines. We have missed seeing Ophelia our granddaughter and sadly it will be at least a year until we see Guy's son Alex who is based in Australia.” I am shooting a series of portraits in #burystedmunds to put together a small local record of this challenging time. #suffolkphotographer #cambridgeshirephotographer #essexphotographer #norfolkphotogrpaher #burystedmunds #locationphotography #portraitphotography #suffolk #essex #norwich #cambridge #ipswich #cambridgeshire #lockdown #familyportraits #lifeinlockdown #sonyA7iii #sony #profotoA1 #profoto Shot with @sonyalpha A7iii & @profotoglobal A1

Lockdown Portrait #31

Lockdown Portrait #31, Tom, Lizzi, Sam & Fin Soper. A photo of my own family, shot by my son Sam using a remote release.

“As a family lockdown has in general been a positive experience. With a few tweaks, we have learnt to live together as a family in relative harmony. 

Lizzi has been working throughout but mainly from home which has allowed her to spend more time with the boys than she normally would. 

Although I have had most of my work cancelled, I have managed to complete some major DIY projects in the garden which has been hugely satisfying. I have also undertaken this doorstep portrait project which has been very good for my sanity, keeping me busy and making sure I’ve kept using my camera. The project has also been a fantastic way to meet people on the street, all of whom have been delightful - there is no doubt that we have a much stronger sense of community now on the street than we did before to this lockdown. 

For the boys, home schooling, led by me, has been intermittent at best. Trying to teach a 7-year-old while keeping a three-year-old occupied has been challenging and I’m afraid that as a result we have not done as much academic work as I would have liked. But the boys have learnt other skills, not least how to get along properly (!) and also how to devise their own games. Fin in particular has benefitted hugely from spending so much time with his older brother - his language has come on leaps and bounds.

We are all now looking forward to a return to some sort of normality, whenever that might be. We hope that we will soon be able to get back to school and work, and perhaps even take a holiday in the summer!”

I am shooting a series of portraits of residents of Victoria St in #burystedmunds to put together a small local record of this challenging time.

#suffolkphotographer

#cambridgeshirephotographer

#essexphotographer

#norfolkphotogrpaher

#burystedmunds 

#locationphotography

#portraitphotography

#suffolk

#essex

#norwich

#cambridge

#ipswich

#cambridgeshire

#lockdown

#familyportraits

#lifeinlockdown

#sonyA7iii

#sony

#profotoA1

#profoto

Shot with @sonyalpha A7iii & @profotoglobal A1

Lockdown Portrait #30

Sally & Jessica live just a few yards away from Victoria St on a path into town. Sally has had a busy lockdown looking after her mother and Jessica.

“Jessica, my daughter, usually resides at Drummond Court, a residential home, but as the virus broke Jessica and I decided that it was imperative to be living back with me!”

I am shooting a series of portraits of residents of Victoria St in #burystedmunds to put together a small local record of this challenging time.

#suffolkphotographer

#cambridgeshirephotographer

#essexphotographer

#norfolkphotogrpaher

#burystedmunds 

#locationphotography

#portraitphotography

#suffolk

#essex

#norwich

#cambridge

#ipswich

#cambridgeshire

#lockdown

#familyportraits

#lifeinlockdown

#sonyA7iii

#sony

#profotoA1

#profoto

Shot with @sonyalpha A7iii & @profotoglobal A1

Lockdown Portrait #29

JOHN & FRANCES PARR

Lockdown Portrait #29 John and Frances Parr. John and Frances have lived on the street for nine years but will soon be moving to the other side of town. John is a retired Vicar and Frances is a soon-to-be retired Headteacher.

“We have enjoyed spending more time together and in the garden, and resuming our regular walks around Bury. But we have missed being with family, especially our grandchildren.”

I am shooting a series of portraits of residents of Victoria St in #burystedmunds to put together a small local record of this challenging time.

#suffolkphotographer

#cambridgeshirephotographer

#essexphotographer

#norfolkphotogrpaher

#burystedmunds 

#locationphotography

#portraitphotography

#suffolk

#essex

#norwich

#cambridge

#ipswich

#cambridgeshire

#lockdown

#familyportraits

#lifeinlockdown

#sonyA7iii

#sony

#profotoA1

#profoto

Shot with @sonyalpha A7iii & @profotoglobal A1

Lockdown Portrait #28

Lockdown Portrait #28 Claire Steer.

Claire has lived on the road for seven years. During our short shoot she told me about her children and grandchildren who live all over the country and who she hasn’t been able to see during lockdown. Apart from that she says that lockdown hasn’t affected her too much, except that the wing mirrors on her car have cobwebs on them!

I am shooting a series of portraits of residents of Victoria St in #burystedmunds to put together a small local record of this challenging time.

#suffolkphotographer

#cambridgeshirephotographer

#essexphotographer

#norfolkphotogrpaher

#burystedmunds 

#locationphotography

#portraitphotography

#suffolk

#essex

#norwich

#cambridge

#ipswich

#cambridgeshire

#lockdown

#familyportraits

#lifeinlockdown

#sonyA7iii

#sony

#profotoA1

#profoto

Shot with @sonyalpha A7iii & @profotoglobal A1

Lockdown Portrait #27

Lockdown Portrait #27. Genevieve & Sergio with Bella the cat. 

Genevieve & Sergio work for the US Airforce and will be returning back to the States next month after three years living on the street.

“The pandemic has been bittersweet in regards to our household. Before the pandemic, we were so busy with work at the base that we did not get to enjoy time together. It has let us reset slightly. It is also overwhelming to see the effects it has had on the world, especially since our last few months living in the UK have been spent inside at home.”

I am shooting a series of portraits of residents of Victoria St in #burystedmunds to put together a small local record of this challenging time.

#suffolkphotographer

#cambridgeshirephotographer

#essexphotographer

#norfolkphotogrpaher

#burystedmunds 

#locationphotography

#portraitphotography

#suffolk

#essex

#norwich

#cambridge

#ipswich

#cambridgeshire

#lockdown

#familyportraits

#lifeinlockdown

#sonyA7iii

#sony

#profotoA1

#profoto

Shot with @sonyalpha A7iii & @profotoglobal A1

Lockdown Portrait #26

Lockdown Portrait #26. David &  Christine Barton.

David and Christine have lived on Victoria Street for an incredible 50 years and 9 months.

“Feeling frustrated not being able to do our own shopping when we are fit and healthy. In the past we have been the ones to do something to help others. Years ago it was  for parents and then more recently for an elderly neighbour. 

We have been lucky to have a new neighbour move in next to us who has done a lot of shopping for fresh groceries as our daughter does a large shop every two weeks. Some of our other neighbours have also shopped for us. We never thought we would miss supermarket shopping so much!

It is fortunate that the weather this year has been so good and we have been able to get out for a good walk of 2 or 3 miles every day. The spring blossom, wisteria, laburnum have all been wonderful. We've never known the blossom in Westbury Avenue to stay on the trees for so long and I cycled along there twice a day for over 30 years to and from work at Kent Blaxill.

We would also LOVE to have a coffee out of the house again for a treat!”

I am shooting a series of portraits of residents of Victoria St in #burystedmunds to put together a small local record of this challenging time.

#suffolkphotographer

#cambridgeshirephotographer

#essexphotographer

#norfolkphotogrpaher

#burystedmunds 

#locationphotography

#portraitphotography

#suffolk

#essex

#norwich

#cambridge

#ipswich

#cambridgeshire

#lockdown

#familyportraits

#lifeinlockdown

#sonyA7iii

#sony

#profotoA1

#profoto

Shot with @sonyalpha A7iii & @profotoglobal A1

Lockdown Portrait #25

Lockdown Portrait #25. Chris MacLeod & Chico. "Most of the time I'm just incredibly conscious of and thankful for how lucky I've been during this crisis, especially when compared to many others who face genuine hardship, loss, grief or danger. I'm retired, so I haven't had any job-related anxieties; I have a garden, so I'm not trapped indoors; I have a dog, who makes me get up in the morning and insists on taking me out for regular exercise; and even as a comparative newcomer to Bury I've discovered that I have neighbours I can turn to for help if and when need arises. I've also greatly enjoyed people's willingness to share, lend, exchange or give away stuff that other residents in the street might need or like – anything from chilli seedlings, yeast, onions and bread flour to DVDs, cookery books and paperback fiction. I really hope the same community spirit will survive beyond the end of lockdown." I am shooting a series of portraits of residents of Victoria St in #burystedmunds to put together a small local record of this challenging time. #suffolkphotographer #cambridgeshirephotographer #essexphotographer #norfolkphotogrpaher #burystedmunds #locationphotography #portraitphotography #suffolk #essex #norwich #cambridge #ipswich #cambridgeshire #lockdown #familyportraits #lifeinlockdown #sonyA7iii #sony #profotoA1 #profoto Shot with @sonyalpha A7iii & @profotoglobal A1

Lockdown Portrait #24.

Soren & Sue Nicolajsen. “The Negative is that our children haven't been able to visit us. We have had to cancel a holiday in June because of the pandemic. The postive is that we have both been training hard every day and we have managed to decorate certain rooms in the house. We have also bought a puppy which has been possible as I have been home since lockdown, whereas Sue, due to her job, has had to go into office some days every week.” I am shooting a series of portraits of residents of Victoria St in #burystedmunds to put together a small local record of this challenging time. #suffolkphotographer #cambridgeshirephotographer #essexphotographer #norfolkphotogrpaher #burystedmunds #locationphotography #portraitphotography #suffolk #essex #norwich #cambridge #ipswich #cambridgeshire #lockdown #familyportraits #lifeinlockdown #sonyA7iii #sony #profotoA1 #profoto Shot with @sonyalpha A7iii & @profotoglobal A1