Close to Home (Photography During the COVID-19 Pandemic)Close to Home (Photography During the COVID-19 Pandemic)
Beginning the Journey Even though we watched the affect the Coronavirus was having on other parts of the world, I don’t think we ever expected the sudden change it would bring to Washington State when the first case emerged in Everett Washington, not far from where I live, then Kirkland Washington becoming the first epicenter in the United States. The sudden change the virus brought to our lives was immense and I believe some of the change will be long lasting. We experienced much of society coming to a halt, restrictions on travel, school closing, changes in our job status and changes with how we interact with one another. A few days before the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order went into effect in Washington State, I headed up to the daffodil fields in the Skagit Valley to photograph the tail end of the bloom. What was normally a packed to capacity parking lot was filled to only 20%. I pondered if I should even get out of my car and walk through the fields. I didn’t see much opportunity for the photo I had envisioned because a strong wind prevented me from being able to do near-far focus stack photography. I walked the perimeter of the fields in the mud checking out all of the angles and saw the reflection of daffodils in the muddy water between the rows. Reflections seemed like a poignant subject considering what was happening with the COVID-19 outbreak. I was in a reflective mood.
This photo is titled "Muddy Reflections". Like any other spring I went to photograph the daffodils in the Skagit Valley (before the stay safe, stay at home order). I knew it would be different this year. The reflections and shadows of daffodils in the mud drew me in. I knelt over my tripod for quite a while adjusting it and looking at the reflections. A couple days after I took this photo the tulip fields in the Skagit Valley closed for the year which was a total loss to the industry. I took for granted that with every spring came the daffodil and tulip fields. This spring although nature is still moving forward as it does every year, daily life is unfolding differently all around us. On March 23, 2020 the governor of Washington declared a stay health, stay at home order which mandated that everyone in the state remain at home unless they were an essential worker or had essential travel. All non-essential businesses were closed and traffic congestion came to a halt. This was the beginning of a change in the way we live that no one could have imagined. As I begin to work from home and take long walks to try to maintain an exercise routine, I noticed some tributes placed along my route. Essential front line workers and healthcare heroes were being honored throughout the country. As I continued to take walks, I became more aware of my community and the outreach between neighbors and the importance of our local businesses as well as the beauty and peace of nature around me.
This photo is titled "Tribute". As I took my usual walk, I found several bouquets scattered along my route. I wondered if they were placed as a tribute. Everything about the scene, the placement of the flowers, the bright colors of the blooms yet their wilted nature told me the story of the bitter sweet times we are living in.
This photo is titled "Community". I've become more appreciative of the community within walking and biking distance of my home. As in many communities there are distinct landmarks and In my community a statue of a goat has become a local landmark. The goat showed up about a year ago and is decorated differently for various holidays and other events. Sometimes people leave tributes near the goat. Right now the goat appropriately wears a mask and displays a message of hope. Hitting Home The impact of how “small” my world had become hit me when I discovered local county parks had closed and I could no longer go to my favorite beach to take sunset photographs. This caused me to rethink my photographic vision. After quite a period of introspection I decided there was therapeutic value in trying to capture the simple peaceful scenes I was seeing around me such as the first emerging morning light casting long shadows, I decided I would share the photos I was taking on Facebook in case they could also bring others a welcome diversion from this time of an unknown future.
This photo is titled "Morning Light". Each morning before starting my work from home, I sat near my font window and watched the morning light fill the western sky and cast long shadows on the spring scene were leaves and blossoms were popping out on the trees and the early spring flowers were blooming. Spring Unfolding Close to Home Although anxiety was high as a world pandemic was declared, the usual busy activity of daily life turned into more basic living and a simplicity and gentle quiet was evident.
This photo is titled "Simplicity". During these times of staying at home many of us are finding beauty in simple things we may have overlooked when our time was filled with more hustle and bustle going here and there. A few mornings ago I was in my yard practicing macro flower photography and many of the flowers I photographed were exciting and complex in full bloom. However this simple, lone budding tulip struck a deep chord with me because of its simplicity. As the month of March turned into April and then May, Spring continued to unfold in my yard and neighborhood and I continued to take my camera with me on my walks.
This photo is called "Looking Up". On my way to the mailbox I admired the new pink wild cherry blossoms all the way from the end of the street. I was under the tree looking up. When I looked up I saw only beautiful blossoms and nothing else.
This photo is titled "Cherry Blossom Carpet". Yesterday I saw this lush cherry blossom carpet. Today it is gone, washed away by yesterday's rain.
This photo is called " Pink Rhododendron" You know it's May in Washington when you see these huge pink Rhododendron bushes in bloom that have almost grown into trees. Finding Creativity As the days of working from home and the impact of not seeing my grandchildren, my 91 year old father and my friends started to take its toll, I was drawn closer to the nature and community I had neglected to see right in front of me. Sometimes I laid awake at night thinking about where I could photograph a sunset over the Puget Sound like I used to. After some exploring I found a vacant parking lot on a ridge in Mukilteo with a spectacular view of the Puget Sound and the tip of Whidbey Island. With the ability to once again watch a sunset over Puget Sound I felt a sense of creativity and connection to something “normal”.
This photo is titled " Emerging Light" I found a place (a vacant parking lot) not too far from my home where I can watch the sunset over the sound. Last night there was a cloud cover but the sun emerged from under the clouds right before it set.
I call this photo " Social Distance". As I looked at the human like shape of these trees the first thought that popped into my mind was - they are social distancing! Even after finding a spot to view the sunset I still felt I wanted to once again be by the water’s edge. I spent time brainstorming where I could find the nearest place still allowing access to the water’s edge. After tossing and turning one night the thought came to me that I live only a couple miles from a lake that I walk by almost daily. I brought my camera to the edge of the lake so I could capture the serenity. I felt a greater calm knowing I could walk to the water's edge and look at the reflections in the water any time I wanted to clear my mind.
The title of this photo is "Serene Lake Serene". A couple nights ago I lay awake wondering where I could walk to from my house, or ride my bike to, to take photos of a "body of water". It dawned on me that I live a few miles from Lake Serene and lately I've been walking by the lake at least 3 times a week. I'm not used to thinking of it as a "body of water" but it is a peaceful, beautiful, easily taken for granted lake. Opening Although the Stay at Home order in Washington is currently still in place, state and local parks as well as some hiking trails have re-opened as long as social distancing and safe guidelines are followed. On a very warm evening I packed up my photography gear and mask and headed to the beach exited for my first sunset photo shoot on the beach. However, to my dismay the parking lot and beach were too crowded for proper social distancing so I returned home. Some friends advised me that in the morning there would be a minus tide. So the next morning I headed to the beach, once again with photography equipment in hand. The smell of the salt water, sights of seals swimming along the shore and seagulls fighting for shellfish greeted me at the water’s edge. I was less focused on photography and more on letting the experience of walking on the beach fill my senses. I took a few shots but I knew this was one case where a two dimensional photo could not portray the overwhelming beauty of the experience without adding smell and sound. I did take a few photos for memory sake.
This photo is called "It's a Wonderful World". "I see trees of green ... I see skies of blue ... the bright blessed day ... And I think to myself. What a wonderful world." Sunset from the Beach On an evening when it was mostly cloudy but warm and the tide was low I returned to the beach for my first sunset photo from the beach since the county parks had been closed. The beach was not crowded so I setup my shot behind some old pilings sitting in a large tide pool. When the sun emerged from the clouds I practiced capturing sun stars on the edge of the clouds but I could tell the real magic would happen when the sun was below the horizon. As the sun was about to set my neighbors walked around the bend. They asked me, “Are you waiting for the perfect moment?” I said, "Yes, I'm always waiting for that moment." Then they said, “Things are getting back to normal.” Although I doubt things will ever get completely "back to the normal" as they were before the COVID-19 outbreak I think we are learning to adapt and are learning what is most important to us and how to continue to pursue those things in our lives.
This photo is titled " Sunset from the Beach" I was fortunate the conditions were favorable for a colorful sunset when I returned to the beach to photograph my first sunset since Snohomish Parks reopened. I attempted to return right after the park re-opened, however the weather was too hot and the tide was high and the crowds were not maintaining social distance so I left. This time I waited for a mostly cloudy day and a low tide which made for less crowds and more space on the beach for social distancing. I was able to sit and patiently wait as the sun dipped below the horizon and its light covered the clouds with a pink glow. You can find the entire "Close to Home" gallery here on my photo website: https://pattiphoto.zenfolio.com/p917789186 Patti Ingham, © Patti's Nature Photography
Comments
No comments posted.
Loading...
|
