By Lisa Davies
Each week, our photo editors compile a gallery of the best images from across the week. On Friday, managing photo editor Mags King posted the link to the compilation on social media channels with a note.
“Lockdown has a way of narrowing our vision, but photography created with commitment and consideration delivers a breadth of perspectives.”
Construction worker Soale with wife Lili-Ane Fekitoa at their Blacktown apartment.Credit: Louise Kennerley
In the craziness of the past couple of weeks, her words made me stop and think. Looking through the images taken, I can see what she means.
It’s obvious of course, but photographers cannot work from home. Like reporters, photojournalists are considered essential workers and they are on the streets each day, documenting our war against COVID-19. All our journalists are experienced, dedicated and fearless and with families and friends at home, it can be stressful. At least five of the Herald’s reporting and photographic team have had to isolate in the past month after coming into close contact with an infected person.
Our photojournalists take all necessary precautions to keep themselves and their families safe - they do not enter people’s homes, they wear protective equipment and disinfect their cameras between assignments.
I asked Mags whether this lockdown was proving harder on her team than last year’s.
“Interestingly enough, because this is the second phase, I think there has been a mindshift and considering that they are experiencing similar challenges... such as home schooling, I find that their photos have an extra layer of sensitivity and empathy for their subjects” she said.
In the early stages of the pandemic, photographers were concerned about how to document the emptiness.
“But now their artistry is used to these scenes and are observing the nuances that relay the bigger picture - the emotions that we are all experiencing.”
The images we are seeing from our team are giving an incredible insight into the world around us.
“We’re all living in our homes so we’re not necessarily seeing what’s happening around us,” Mags said. “Even though an image is being taken through a window, we get an insight into people’s lives - we’re not experiencing this crisis by ourselves. Photography has a way of unifying us, and our experiences.”
Maroubra daily life during Covid-19 lockdown.Credit: Wolter Peeters
We are about to finish our sixth week in lockdown, and we have at least a month to go. The numbers of new cases each day remain frustratingly high, and far too many are moving around the community while infectious. Alarmingly, almost 200 children under the age of nine have contracted the virus, with young people driving the infections across Sydney’s south-west.
There is frustration in the community, amid the scramble for vaccines and changing advice about restrictions in various local government areas. But between the Olympics and the barest hint of spring (so bare that I am writing this with the heater and ugg boots on) to lift our spirits this week, I hope you’re hanging in there.
We are seeing businesses pivoting to keep their customers fed and their revenue ticking over, and using their ingenuity to keep life as normal as possible - a special shout out to all the gym instructors who have been training clients in icy winter mornings for weeks, now. We need it for our sanity, and we need to hang onto it tightly.
If you’ve made it this far into the note - thank you - feel free to reach out to our teams with ideas of how we at the Herald can keep you amused, entertained, in touch over the next four weeks. We’d also love to hear stories about how you’re coping, and the little things you’re doing to survive this intense period.
Stay safe, and informed.
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