One of the greatest surprises about photography is how it encompasses so much of our lives. From documentary to reportage, from landscape to travel or portrait and even commercial, we interact, observe and craft imagery from those amazing pieces of life that surround us. Burk Uzzle described it well when he said, “Photography is a love affair with life.” The connotations of this quote go well beyond sentimentality and include the challenges and obstacles we face in life, especially today.
There is no question that the current situation with the COVID-19 affects our collective and individual lives in a major way. A very different rhythm of life is emerging from the current crisis.
At the moment the priority is to find a way to minimize the impact and protect lives especially of those who are at higher risk such as our parents, grandparents, friends and people with immune-compromised conditions. This is a time when we must take responsibility and do our best to protect our loved ones at all costs. It doesn’t mean we should run out to visit them—quite the opposite (for obvious reasons)—but we should make sure the procedures are in place to limit their exposure to visitors. We should also take time to provide them with everything they need. This is a time to break our daily schedule to connect with people we may have forgotten because of our professional commitments. Let’s make sure we pause and take care of each other! It doesn’t take much. It could be as simple as ensuring we wash our hands frequently. We should call our vulnerable family members and friends or simply let others know we are here for them.
There is another layer to this crisis. Due to the stoppage of most economic activities many people will be facing serious financial difficulties. Many professional and semi-professional photographers have been faced with an increasingly challenging industry even before the COVID-19 and have already found it difficult to pay their bills. In the meantime, we all face a new, much more dire reality. The consequences will be significant for large institutions and companies, but the hardest hit will be smaller organizations, independent artists and self-employed photographers as ticket sales, assignments, commercial jobs and public funding dry up. Many photographers will face an existential crisis. Therefore, it is imperative that we don’t forget about each other. Let’s make sure we continue supporting our favourite artistic organizations, artists, creators and photographers. Please make sure you visit their websites, donate to their Patron account, buy their books, products, support their podcasts, etc. It is going to be very difficult for many in the art/photographic industry.
The role of art and photography is especially important in times of crisis. During the Spanish flu pandemic, New York prioritised art and entertainment to make sure that people kept their spirits up and didn’t “go mad.” With our photography and creations, we have a role to play helping people to cope with the crisis, providing solace and visual inspiration, so important at such times. We must provide an antidote to the often-apocalyptic news. I can assure you that better times are in front of us and we will go through it together.
Enjoy the imagery below and please don’t forget to reach out to those who need our help and make sure we‘ve taken all the necessary precautions to protect those most vulnerable among us.
Stay healthy and well my friend!
2020 © OLI Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.
Really appreciable article to take care of each other, Here we all our familiar with health concern facing during this pandemic of Covid-19 i would like to suggestFUL body Health Checkup . It can prevent serious diseases that can cost millions of dollars.
Thank you for publishing such a valuable write-up during the pandemic. Apart from visiting friends, relatives, and family members, we can offer a full body checkup package to them. This package will help them know the health issues earlier if they have. And proper treatment will help them stay healthy and fit.
A very useful article that is nice to read. I fully support you. Now we are faced with an unpleasant situation, but we must not lose our vigilance. Therefore, I advise you to do whole body checkup A very useful procedure at the moment.
Hi all: Take care of health workers, first.
I’ve just come in from a collective, spontaneous applause from the balconies in my city to them, (despite the confinement). They are already exhausted, and the first affected, and we are just at the beginning of the curve. There are 500 Intensive Care units in my region, enough for normal times, but at the first week we’re alreday over that figure…
Some of these sanitaries will die, anonimously. From now on, help them as heroes deserve, because this is what they are.
Best regards, Robert
p.s. Sorry, I cannot speak about imagery today, I need to write this, hope you understand.
Sorry… keep safe, all the best for everyone!
Of course Robert! Thank you for sharing your update with us. Stay healthy and strong!
So well said, Olaf! Beautiful pictures as well. Maybe we as artists can contribute by sharing what we do and in that way lighten up the crisis that we now go through together. So many times I get the feeling when I document an event that If I don’t create the pictures, no one will. (Even if everyone has a camera in their pocket these days). The joy I see when I deliver the pictures is an important reason for why I am a photographer. I print most of my pictures on paper. They make a personal gift that lasts.
Well-said! Thank you so much for sharing!
Lovely images Olaf surrounded by beautifully worded encouragement during such difficult situation we all face. Thank You! Stay safe!
Thank you so much for your kind words and good wishes Bartek! Stay safe!
Thank you for the reminder and for sharing the peaceful, lovely images.
Thank you Patricia for visiting. It is wonderful to hear from you.
Wow, your photos look absolutely amazing and I love the positive message too. It’s time to learn and remember what’s important and what’s not. And, instead of complaining about cancelled holidays, we should come up with the way we can all collectively make this world a better place to live. Human footprint is so large it leaves very little room for anything else, we should at least stop eating pandas, koala bears and dogs to prevent more diseases in the future, because this is only beginning. Thanks for sharing and have a good day 😀 Aiva
Thank you for your thoughtful comment.