Alone Together: Hornsby Shire’s Pandemic in Images
A picture says 1000 words, so in September/October 2021 Hornsby Shire Council invited residents to share their experience of the Covid pandemic in pictures.
The Covid 19 pandemic caused Council’s across the Sydney metropolitan region to review or postpone their cultural programming. To support local creativity in a Covid-safe manner for a community in lockdown, Hornsby Shire Council ran several creative photography projects, under the banner of the Alone, Together: Photography Project, including a photography competition.
The competition was open to Hornsby Shire residents of any age. Participants were asked to submit an image that answered the question, “What does the Covid pandemic mean to me?”. The image may have been taken over the course of the pandemic or, it could have been generated in response to the photography competition opportunity. There were 183 entries, 183 finalists and 18 winning entries. This exhibition showcases the winning entries.
The images were selected by a panel of judges with ties to Hornsby Shire, local studies, cultural and photographic expertise. The instruction to the judges was to select images that answered the question, “What does the Covid pandemic mean to me?”. The idea was to create an exhibition, (physical and online) that represented the zeitgeist, or defining mood of the people of Hornsby Shire during this time.
A number of themes were revealed including; the importance of pets, an appreciation of the bush and outdoor lifestyle so easily accessed in Hornsby Shire, covid specific messaging and behaviours, empty urban landscapes and infrastructure, covid related pollution, value of community, family and friends, personal grooming and the challenges of home-schooling. Where many images on a similar theme were entered, the most aesthetically pleasing image was chosen, to ensure an interesting and diverse exhibition.
The images reveal that the people of Hornsby are resilient and resourceful and recognise the danger of social isolation. They can be responsive to serious situations and see humour and beauty in challenging times. Collectively, these images show that the pandemic has been both a bane and a boon for the local community.
The Alone, Together: Photography Project aimed to bring people together to connect with each other and the wider local community. It sought to promote wellbeing through creativity, and solidarity through shared experience. The finalist and winning entries will be added to Hornsby Shire Recollects, Council’s online local history database as a permanent social record of local people’s experience of the covid pandemic for the benefit of future generations.
Council would like to thank all the participants of the Alone, Together Photography Competition for sharing their stories of the pandemic. Council hopes that everyone viewing the images will be able to relate to something and someone in this exhibition.
Winners
(you can swipe right to left on a mobile device)
Overall winner - Lena Zatsarevnaya
Alone together
My son Mark with our dog, Bjorn during lockdown 2021.
Category winner - Junior
Emily Johnson
My covid companion
My shadow is the only friend that I can see during lockdown and it has to keep both of us safe by wearing a mask.
Category winner - Junior
Jacob Cocks
Trampoline hair
I missed my friends during covid but I was lucky I have brothers and a trampoline. And more hair, makes static hair so much better!
Category winner - Youth
Cate Fitzpatrick
Tunnel visions
The pandemic has caused despair, ongoing struggles and at times it has seemed like the darkness may never fade. However, my image aims to convey how there will always be light at the end of the tunnel - both literally and figuratively. The pandemic has urged us to be grateful for what we have, to seek positivity and follow the light in our lives despite living during an extraordinary time. It is important to remember that things will always improve, as the forces of hope and togetherness will always outshine those of anguish and desolation.
Category winner - Youth
Aayush Chitnis
The faces of quarantine
The coronavirus pandemic to me meant a sort of stagnation; a stagnation of myself, my family, and the world around us. Being stuck inside throughout the multiple lockdowns was, in no uncertain terms, an unprecedented experience for me, and as far as I can tell, the rest of the world also. Through my photo, The Faces of Quarantine, I wanted to portray this stagnation through the various repetitive activities that were all I had throughout quarantine - my exercise, my entertainment, and my hobbies, and I believe that this type of “stacked” image is the best way to portray this.
Highly Commended - Youth
Mysha Islam
In the name of self care
When we are in lockdown we get bored and one of the most popular ideas of what to do to pass time is giving yourself a lockdown haircut. This photo is meant to represent the strange and unique ideas we came up with in boredom. The lockdown haircut is a global icon in the covid 19 lockdown experience and it deserves to be showcased.
Highly Commended - Youth
Ally MacLaine
My doctor - A modern day hero
The covid-19 pandemic has impacted us all. Everyone has had to make changes and none more so than medical. Their jobs have been made so much harder. This is my local GP, Dr Ilona, didn't just administer my covid vaccination, she took the time to reassure me, ensure I was comfortable and answer any questions I had. She is a true modern day hero.
Category winner - Adult
Nilmini De Silva
Covid hugs
'Covid hugs', is a self portrait with my partner Steven, taken during lockdown to highlight how isolating it is when we lose the ability to see and physically touch the people we love. We were grateful to have each other at a time when many people were experiencing feelings of loneliness. We are lit by our iPhones, signifying how important technology was. We were reliant on the internet to stay informed, to remain connected to our work colleagues and also to be supported and support close friends and family around the world.
Category winner - Adult
Angela Russell
Home learning is hard
Home learning ain’t easy for anyone in this household!
Category winner - Adult
Rachael Horii
Edge of freedom
During lockdown I would drive to Peats Ferry Bridge often. The edge of Hornsby LGA, as far as freedom allowed. Friends and beaches of the Central Coast beckoned. Even the bridge was empty and alone.
Category winner - Adult
Omid Mazloomi
Empty roads
The pandemic resulted in cleaner air due to fewer cars on the roads. Prior to the pandemic, these motorways were mostly full of traffic during the day. Now that the lockdown is over, let's continue to care for our environment.
Category winner - Adult
Kathryn Wallace
Where are we heading
I think my image conveys the uncertainty raised by the pandemic circumstances; the changes made and to come, as a result of these strange times. This image, taken on a lockdown walk at Crosslands, raises the question, 'where are we heading?'
Category winner - Adult
Elizabeth Ong
Home school gym
When asked how homeschooling my seven year old is going, my answer was always that he is driving me crazy as he swings from the ceiling... literally! Cooped up inside the house, the rafters became a gym for my student to unleash his pent-up energy.
Highly Commended - Adult
Lisa-Marie Voon
The hairy side of lockdown
Though the covid pandemic closed borders and doors, it opened up a whole new world of skills to explore! When my sons' hair became too long, I suddenly became a barber, and decided to give his workmates a great conversation starter.
Highly Commended - Adult
Gaanesh Prasad
Stay safe stay home
During this pandemic we learnt that the only way to break the chain was to 'stay safe and stay healthy'.
Category winner - Senior
Lindee Horman
Gains
A lot of the pandemic was about the 'numbers'. At the 11:00 o’clock daily news report we were informed of the Covid-19 infected cases rising, the deceased cases rising and the 'jabbed' cases rising. This image displays the 'numbers' generated by the overeating opportunites, presented in the lockdowns.
Category winner - Senior
Julie Debray
When will the pandemic end
A burnt bush landscape. A bleak location showing blackened trees, burnt foliage, a person wearing dark clothing and with the inevitable mask hanging from his hand. When will the lockdown end so that the enforced isolation from family and friends can be lifted and life return to a more normal state?
Highly Commended - Senior
Christine Cole
Trapped
Australia’s borders closed on 20 March 2020, with international travel to and from Australia strictly controlled. Everyone arriving became subject to two weeks’ hotel quarantine at their own expense. Prices for hotel quarantine started at $3,000 for one adult, an added expense on top of your airfare. With immediate family living in the UK we previously felt we were 24 hours apart in the event of an emergency, but the pandemic has made it very hard to know when we will be able to see them next.
Finalists
