As a family photographer, I have postponed my photoshoots until after lockdown. I had considered offering doorstep photos in Cheltenham in exchange for a voluntary donation to the NHS, but hadn’t felt that the time was right until very recently.
But on our daily exercise today, my heart was utterly warmed by the wonderful sight that I saw in our neighbourhood. -
The sound of people chatting, friends being made and glasses being charged. There were gramophones and guitars being played, cake being offered out within a safe distance - even a change into black ties for dinner. All in our front gardens. -
And then it dawned on me. Capturing joy is the very thing that drives my work. And here it was in abundance. We were all elated at allowing ourselves a tiny slice of normality and respectful socialisation. This was a big moment in our history and I felt compelled to document it.
We don’t tend to sit in our front gardens in this country. But on this day, tea parties are thrown together with pride in our front gardens. We felt joy on the streets as we chattered to our neighbours for the first time in weeks. That freedom which so many fought for 75 years ago, was somehow understood and felt in our hearts more this year than ever before in our generation.
I met many lovely neighbours for the first time, including a surgeon and a doctor and asked for their portraits in exchange for a voluntary contribution to the NHS (well actually I’ll let the doctor and the surgeon off). -
It was like a breath of fresh air and a VE celebration like no other..
