Late in March 2020 Coronavirus, or COVID_19, entered the common vernacular of Australians. Our borders were closed and social distancing rules started, followed by the state government of Victoria closing “non-essential” services. The places we gathered including pubs, clubs, festivals and sports were shut down.
As a photographer usually documenting live music and performances, festivals, street photography and daily life my entire occupations ground to a halt. I spent the first few weeks in fear of who was going to die and every moment being consumed by the virus. Daily walks were a sanctioned luxury where I could go outside and be in nature. Along the way I met (at a distance) some very interesting folk and made some photographs.
I desperately needed to continue to create and this gave me the idea to ask locals if I could photograph them at their homes. Safety precautions and social distancing measures were kept so all photographs occurred with me outside and them at their front gate, in the backyard or in a paddock with their animals and just a couple through their windows.
The photographs were made between 18 April and 4 May 2020 in the Upper Yarra. The households capture people just as they are in isolation, no one dressed up for their photographs.’
‘Isolation Portraits 2’ is the second self publication of this series with photographs created from 15 May to 30 June 2020. People felt different in the second stage of this work. Restrictions were still in place until the end of May, and then relaxed a little in June, but we were still in isolation and encouraged to ‘stay home’. Some people were returning to the workplace and transitioning from home schooling. People seemed to be going back to the usual busyness of their pre-COVID lives. There was less willingness and ability to participate in this project. May people also appeared tired, frustrated, and worn down. I acknowledge that this project does not include many who’s isolation experience was extremely difficult and simply couldn’t participate.
It does continue to shine through however, that the vast majority of households involved loved where they live and are grateful for the space, fresh air and nature.
Just to note, safety precautions and social distancing measures were observed during this time. So most of the photography occurred with outside, at the households front gate, in the backyard or in a paddock with their animals and just a couple through their house window.
Thank you again to all those who trusted me to document their isolation portrait and shared in their own words the personal COVID-19 experience.’
Isolation Portraits
‘Isolation Portraits’ is a project created by Suzanne Phoenix with over 60 households of the Upper Yarra Valley during the 2020 lockdowns. Portraits were created at front gates or in gardens, back yards, farm paddocks and even by the pool in line with social distancing rules. The project documents the impact of the coronavirus pandemic restrictions for people in the Upper Yarra with a series of isolation portraits.
Each household also wrote of their personal experience of self-isolation and were self published in two magazines featuring their own words, unedited alongside their isolation portraits.
Two publications of the ‘Isolation Portraits’ and individuals written experience were created and are available as hard copy books and ebooks through the store.
From Suzanne“The ‘Isolation Portraits’ series started in April 2020 following the arrival of the worldwide pandemic – Coronavirus or COVID-19. I have photographed over 60 households and 100 people where I live in the Upper Yarra Valley, on the very edge of Greater Melbourne. It includes the townships of Don Valley, East Warburton, Gladysdale, Launching Place, McMahons Creek, Millgrove, Powelltown, Reefton, Yarra Junction, Warburton and Wesburn.”
The Isolation Portrait of ‘The Wobbly Wizard (left) was shortlisted in the National Photographic Portrait Prize of 2021 and was exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
