Lockdown photography on the streets of Exeter
“We only have what we give.”
ISABEL ALLENDE
When we got news of the lockdown in March 2020, my knee-jerk reaction was – what can I do to help? The answer came to me relatively quickly in the form of a Facebook page my friend had set up: Exeter Area Coronavirus Community Support. I offered to help, and our little team of two soon became four as we gathered volunteers from across the city, with the aim of linking up people in each area and helping them to set up hub groups of volunteers along with sending people who needed help to the groups. After a demanding few weeks of juggling this and homeschooling, along with emergency Comms for my day job, we passed all our contacts and spreadsheets to the Council and to the local Community Builders … and breathed a sigh of relief.
My involvement left me feeling very much in awe of our Exeter community. I felt the need to share my experience creatively, with words and photography. During lockdown number one, I embarked on my doorstep photography project, inviting people across the city to share their lockdown stories with me, and, in turn, sharing these stories with the people of Exeter through my Exploring Exeter social media, on my blogzine, and in Exeter Life magazine. During this journey, I have laughed, cried, and been humbled in equal measures; I’ve been incredibly moved by so many acts of bravery and kindness, and I’ve recognised that for some just getting through this makes them a hero.
The photographs have been exhibited three-metres high in Princesshay and in Exeter Library, a book containing all the stories is on sale now at The Bookery in Crediton, All profits go to Exeter Homelessnees charity.
