The Journey

A Lockdown Photobook: 2020-2021

Over 365 days. For the past years, we have lived within a totally unexpected time of a global pandemic. Had you told me how long it was going to take for ‘normal’ to start to return I would have probably laughed and not believed you.

I live in a small rural part of Essex, in a village located on the top of a hill, with a population of only just over a thousand people. This village is surrounded by farmland and woodlands, and the next local village is accessible by car or a forty-five-minute walk. I have lived in this village my entire life; I am familiar with the paths and surrounding landscape. When the first lockdown happened I felt almost overwhelmed by the thoughts of being confined to this area.

Often throughout the pandemic, I thought, “‘If only I could just be somewhere else”. Now reflecting on my experience, I am grateful for the comforts I had at home, for the safety my parents provided, and for how that time allowed me to venture further into what I was so familiar with and to enhance my photographic practice.