Alone Together: Hornsby Shire’s Pandemic in Images
Finalists
Finalist - Adult
Amanda Keeling
The world through a window
For those of us living in apartments during the pandemic, our windows became a gateway to the outside world, where we could safely engage with the goings on outside and feel connected - alone, together.
Finalist - Adult
Andrea Pateman
Together at last
During the covid lockdown, our family was divided by the Tasman Sea. I captured this photo as we prepared to be together again.
Finalist - Adult
Ben Behdad and Sogol Shirazi
The other me
Lockdown taught me I could be different people with different occupations during one 24 hrs! From a cook to a cleaner to a baker to a childcare educator and at the same time a full time professional! The first days were draining but towards the end I got to see the sides of me that I had never seen.
Finalist - Adult
Carol-Ann McLean
Puzzling covid times
Whilst in hospital receiving chemo for leukaemia during covid lockdown when no visitors where allowed, I completed this jigsaw puzzle of myself that was given to me as a present. It represents a unique, happy, smiling occasion pre-illness and pre-covid.
Finalist - Adult
Clare Dorey
Who needs words?
One of the many games we played during lockdown. Clearly this wasn't a popular one for everyone involved.
Finalist - Adult
David Williams
Feeling fragile
With more parcels having to be delivered to the front door of homes, a growing sense of fragility has been experienced by many.
Finalist - Adult
Deborah Noble
Colours of covid
During lockdown I introduced my kids to different artists and their styles - one of which was Jackson Pollock. When we created artworks inspired by his technique, more paint ended up on my daughter than on the canvas - and this is still a memory she talks about today. This photo symbolises the mess, stress and chaos of lockdown, as well as the beauty that has come from this unique and treasured time spent with family.
Finalist - Adult
Deborah Noble
Walking Art Gallery
Throughout lockdown our street came together to create a Walking Art Gallery - something for the community to share and enjoy while exercising. What started as our family's collection of lockdown artworks grew into an ever-changing display of varying artworks from many others in our street, and even those in the wider community. The art gallery created joy, interest and deep community connection in a time where many felt distant and isolated.
Finalist - Adult
Gareth Garne
Front line
This is a photograph of me holding my 5 month old baby for the last time for 65 days. Due to the nature of my work as a paramedic and risk of exposure, we decided to effectively 'split the house in two' and live separately. This was done in order to protect my wife, baby and mother-in-law, who is immunocompromised and on chemotherapy.
Finalist - Adult
Ian Bruce
Dot matrix
May 2021 we needed to take our son to the emergency room at Hornsby Hospital, where he was born a year earlier under lockdown. All hospital visitors had their temperature taken and were given a coloured dot to wear. The back of this sign by the carpark is where people left them on the way out.
Finalist - Adult
Jennifer Jones
Covid hair cut
Having a go at my first ever 'home-salooning'. The face says it all?!
Finalist - Adult
Ken Cody
Divergence to isolation
The moment I walked into the clinic, I experienced a moment of pause. The cold clinical feeling of isolation stopped me at the front door. I could only stand and stare, and capture the moment. But this is my hometown, and I wasn't going to let the pandemic bring me down. So I continued to the counter with a smile and an hello.
Finalist - Adult
Kim Gosschalk
Deserted Yarrara
During lockdown in 2021, it was eerie to walk around such a busy area like Yarrara Road and find it so deserted and quiet.
Finalist - Adult
Kylie Sutherland
Masterpiece memories
Lockdown for our family meant more time to get dirty and create masterpiece memories. For a 3 year old, the past year has been pure joy, more time with mum and dad, and time to explore our backyard.
Finalist - Adult
Michael Carroll
Beauty and serenity in our backyard
My daughter was really struggling with home schooling during lockdown. At least once a week we would grab a few snacks and a drink and head up the street to a favourite spot of hers. The two of us would just sit, talk, relax and admire the stunning Hornsby Shire bushland views. It did absolute wonders for both of us and really helped my daughter get through a difficult and stressful time.
Finalist - Adult
Michael Tristram
H2O happiness
The pandemic and associated lockdown restrictions has meant I have realised how lucky we are to have great facilities in the Hornsby area, like the mountain bike trails. Specifically, how much they help people’s mental health and happiness in tough times, like for my son in this photo.
Finalist - Adult
Rebekah Garne
Love at a distance
My husband set up a distanced date for us in the backyard, to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We did not have contact with each other for 65 days as we were living separately but together in the same house. Due to the nature of his work as a paramedic and risk of exposure, we effectively 'split the house in two.' This was done to protect myself, our young child and my mother, who we live with and is immunocompromised on chemotherapy.
Finalist - Adult
Suchitra Sriramalu
Watching you
During the pandemic we stuck to basics by wearing masks and staying safe whenever we stepped outdoors.
Finalist - Adult
Wayne Carothers
Stay home stay safe
NSW Health 'stay at home' order reminder sign.
Finalist - Junior
Benjamin Brotherton
Pandemic Pollution
I went on a lot of bush walls during lockdown and enjoyed looking at nature. Sadly, I started seeing disposable masks and other rubbish being left everywhere. It made me realise the pandemic is not only affecting humans but the environment as well. I took this photo of a mask in front of a beautiful waterfall (don’t worry, I picked it up and disposed of it properly). I wanted to tell people about the pollution problem on this planet. A picture to inform.
Finalist - Junior
Grace Backhouse
Post lockdown maintenance
My daughter (6) was playing with her toys. When asked what she was doing she said 'this is the queue for a haircut after the lockdown'.
Finalist - Junior
Issy Wyatt
Essential excercise
Even though the pandemic meant that I couldn't do all of the usual fun activities that I would normally do, it did mean that I got to spend lots more time with my sister and going for walks with her, which I loved.
Finalist - Junior
Maddie Wyatt
Trapped
When we are in lockdown we are always looking outside wishing we can leave and see our friends and family, wishing for days out and traveling, but as we are always on the inside looking out, sometimes we feel trapped. It is like being locked inside a car, with only a small window to see out of as we watch the world go by.
Finalist - Junior
Thanh Le
Coronavirus
Learning about and making the coronavirus in a school holiday science workshop.
Finalist - Junior
Thanh Le
Post lockdown wishlist
I asked my 9 year-old daughter to write down all the things she wants to do when the lockdown is over, with the intention of finding out what she misses doing the most and to help her turn her wishlist into a reality post-lockdown.
Finalist - Senior
Anita Howard
Hi
First rays of the morning sunlight accentuate my large teddy's face as he peers through the railings, ready to welcome anyone passing by. Initially, teddies were placed to cheer up children as they took their daily walk. However, I for one, as an adult, enjoyed hearing people passing by and making comments about my teddy. Also, on my walks seeing the variety of teddies and other creatures placed as symbols of 'welcome', 'hi!' and 'you're not alone.'
Finalist - Senior
Caroline Hawkins
Looking beyond
I spent much of 2021 in rural Victoria, reluctant to return when Delta hit Sydney. I loved driving past the canola fields - the bright yellow suggesting hope beyond the restraining fence.
Finalist - Senior
Colleen Langron
LIFE
This photo was taken in my car crossing Berowra Waters on the ferry. It represents life in lockdown during the covid pandemic. Seeing our old 'normal' life, reflected in the rear vision mirror leaving the shore, to being with everyone else restricted in their cars also looking out. However, there is a lifeboat, with light just around the corner, in the distance, that brings hope amongst the barriers and locks that confine us now.
Finalist - Senior
Joanne Karcz
On hold
A usually full calendar is suddenly empty. Activities and gatherings with family and friends stopped. Travel plans cancelled. With no plans and nothing to look forward to, life was on hold.
Finalist - Senior
Joanne Karcz
Wheel of misfortune
Reading everything covid related and addictively listening to the daily 11am press conference was like spinning a circle of doom resulting in increased tension and anxiety.
Finalist - Senior
Norman Wilkinson
Closed
Lockdown prevents us from travelling to see loved ones living in distant places and sharing experiences with others.
Finalist - Senior
Reginald Pollard
Our welcome jab for covid-19 protection
My wife Lyn (78), and I (82), were very keen to receive the vaccinations to protect us from covid.
Finalist - Senior
Rona Sissons
Walk on
These shoes have become my constant companions during the pandemic. Denied almost any other form of exercise, with all pools and gyms closed, I have, for the very first time, worn out the trainers that I must have owned for the greater part of the last twenty years, in just over eighteen months! Living alone, walking has become my main pleasure. It has given me a respite from the same four walls and allowed me to meet people, albeit one at a time, to chat! In short, walking saved my sanity and that doesn’t even include the health benefits of the exercise!
Finalist - Youth
Anita Quigley
Better times
This photo is representative of the feeling of longing. Longing to go outside and explore and see everyone like we used to do every day. By staring out the front door, the model is a physical representation of mine, my family’s and thousands of people’s wish to be outside and for life to be normal.
Finalist - Youth
Carys Brennan
Reflection
This reflection on my balcony after rain represents both the negative and positive sides of the pandemic. The bars of the balcony railing represent being in lockdown while the trees represent how fortunate we were to have access to the outdoors and nature during this time. While the lockdown was hard at times there were positive aspects and we were able to get out a lot more and were more active.
Finalist - Youth
Cate Fitzpatrick
Holding on
The pandemic has swiftly taken away simple aspects of life that give us strength and vitality; the warm embrace of a grandma, brother or daughter may seem foreign now. These feelings of isolation are portrayed by the outstretched hands; creating the sense that our loved ones are just out of reach. My image also conveys how uncertainty has pervaded our lives during this pandemic; often the line between right and wrong has been blurred. Some have sacrificed their own morality in selfish and greedy acts, whereas others have performed great deeds of kindness; striving to remain together, even whilst alone.
Finalist - Youth
Joel Tristram
The long road
The covid pandemic for me has been a long road, seemingly endless at times with bright points and dark challenging parts, just like this photo.
Finalist - Youth
Lucia Israel
Covid kitten
Learning to find hope and joy in new ways. We’ve had to learn to appreciate what is inside our windows, as much as we long for what is outside.
Finalist - Youth
Pirran Laycock
Window
Having to be inside more often, I found myself feeling that everything indoors was grey and dull. The outside world seemed much more exciting. I took this self-portrait photo using a remote and then adjusted the colours. You can see my reflection in the window that reminds me of who I am in normal times, before the pandemic. The grey and dull me on the inside is also like me when I’m feeling down and anxious.
Finalist - Youth
Rachael Morgan
Dance
To me, the pandemic means participating in a variety of things on Zoom, such as online school or even dancing. My image is composed of my dance shoes and a phone with the Zoom app. I decided to do this since dancing has been a big part of my lockdown routine, and I do it almost every day.
