Sydney Photographer Snaps 'Porch Portraits' Documenting People Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
By Jenna Benson
14th April, 2020
Matt, Penny & Ali (L-R) were holidaying with family in Canada when the order for returning Australians to self-quarantine came through. They had three days remaining. #LarkosInIso
There’s no denying that the coronavirus pandemic is history-making, and will simply be impossible to forget. A Sydney photographer is capturing the moment for local people – from a distance, of course.
Photographer Jim Barker of Twelve Points Photography created a series of portraits observing the etiquette of a strange, touch-free life. The result? Doortraits.
Gallery
Bondi. While not symptomatic, Danny was tested for COVID-19 as a precaution after he hosted the wedding where an estimated 40 people were infected. He was expecting to get the results back the day we made this photo. They came back negative.
Chevy, Erskineville. As a costume designer for theatre productions, Chevy is now out of work for 4-6 months and finds herself living with mum - a Brit who can't return home.
Newtown. Joe and Caitlin, a journalist and IT specialist, are both social distancing and still able to work from home but concerned with how quickly they tire of being cooped up. Joe's also been cut off from his daughters, who reside in WA with their mother.
Novak, Newtown, is self-isolating out of choice. As a musician, he's lost weekly DJ gigs and festival slots for the foreseeable future.
Alex, Laura and Nathan (L-R) all belong to an advertising agency and worked from Alex's Stanmore home to maintain some a little social interaction. Every day the situation changes, and so their clients are in overdrive.
Rae, in Erskineville, is a journalist and I caught her between a radio spot and recording a podcast from home. Her partner came out to give me a hug and we both reminded him "no touching!”
Joss, a project manager in Glebe, had already spent three days socially distancing himself: "I hope it's no longer than it currently is. You don't realise the importance of human connection until you have to deprive yourself of it.”
Daniel, a journalist, has been instructed to work from his home in Dulwich Hill. Esther, a university outreach co-ordinator, has had their social outreach events cancelled for the next four months.
"It's going to be interesting to see how this all pans out - surely there's something good that has to come from this.” Hugh, photographer, Bellevue Hill.
Waterloo. Krissy (L) was just laid off from her job as a music booker, while Siona (R) is able to work from home in her contracted position at a creative agency.
Dom, Lewisham. “I feel very fortunate that I'm able to keep working from home - the commute to my office is very easy. These are really tough times for so many people. Even though we're separated, I just hope I can be as supportive and helpful to my mates right now who need it.”
When I asked Kendra, a stylist, and her partner Cristobal, a sound engineer, to be part of the series, she responded with laughter: "If I can hang my head in disappointment on my stoop?? All my shoots and events got cancelled today... freelance is a very scary time.”
Lea, publicist, Marrickville. “I told work that my self isolation look would be me in lush loungewear, doing a sheet mask and carrying a glass of wine."
Alexandria. Pat's using this downtime to work on his photography book, spanning ten years of parties and clubnights across Sydney, working through hundreds of thousands of photos til 4am. He'd just woken up for this photo, at 10am: "Real photographers wake up at midday.”
Amy, producer, Annandale: "Maternity leave has prepared me for this moment.”
Momo the business cat, Rozelle. "He's not done a lot of work today - just slept on the job, really. Still wants to get paid though, of course.”
Chris, a photographer in Newtown, has lost a lot of previously-steady work and is now pivoting to create a nimble digital asset production company for brands finding themselves switching to or starting an online business.”
Natasha, newsreader. Her daughter Georgia had just endured dental surgery. "She loves the camera and having her photo taken and this will hopefully make her happy while she's stuck inside!”
Karina & Will, Wahroonga, are adjusting to life inside with three kids under 8. "It's incredibly difficult homeschooling kids who are only just learning to read, as we can’t rely on the virtual distance learning that high schools provide.”
Jono and Zoe, both doctors, are hoping to still be able to take leave for their annual Easter camping trip.
Paul, former pilot, Wahroonga: "I flew my last flight yesterday, and that's the last flight I'll make, I reckon. If I have to go out and fly in Japan or Azkhabhat, so be it.”
Clif & Angie, Wahroonga, greeted me with a bottle of home-made hand sanitiser. All of the shows Angie was due to see had been cancelled.
Libby & Ian Anderson, retired, Wahroonga: "We're thinking about getting away from everything down the coast and to be near the beach. Our kids want us to stick near hospitals just in case, though.”
Wes, photographer, Surry Hills. While he’s lost most of his work in the last week, he’s excited to spend more time with his new fiancé who's now working from home too. His dog Scrooge is just excited to have his humans around full-time. “Finally a chance to clear out my office, something I’ve been making excuses around for the last five years. And scan in all that old film.”
Ange, comedian & journalist, Redfern. When asked about how she's feeling: "Oh I'm fine, it's just a generalised dread, really.”
Matt, Penny & Ali (L-R) were holidaying with family in Canada when the order for returning Australians to self-quarantine came through. They had three days remaining. #LarkosInIso
Yaya, photographer, Bondi. "Admittedly, I’ve been waking up a little later than usual. Is it weird if I wear a hat? I’m not able to wear my hat as much as I used to.”
Sunday Gus, consultant, Vaucluse. "I'm very fortunate to already WFH in a flexible job one or two days a week, so going full time at home isn’t a big change. It’s a weird, almost guilty feeling to have made it this far relatively unscathed when there are so many people doing it tough in retail, hospitality and the arts, but there’s a knock-on effect impacting everyone I know.”
Lucy, reporter, Darlinghurst. "I've just done my weekly shop. I'm being super frugal right now because my tenant lost his job and can't pay rent.”
Craig, videogames marketing, Erskineville. "I’m much better today as I did some exercise this morning - the endorphins made me feel better. Last week I was a shocker. I'm worried about family overseas.”
Kitty Allure, burlesque dancer, Stanmore. "It's been nice to throw on a full face and dress up for this. I've lost all my gigs in the foreseeable future - June is supposed to be the next one, but who knows at this stage.”
Nate, freelance videogames writer, Five Dock. "I've had a lot of writing work at the moment, which is great, but I am aware there are plenty of us freelancers who have nothing right now.”