2020 in hindsight

What a year, full of bushfires, a global pandemic that has changed the direction of everyone’s lives not to mention Black Lives Matters. I won’t even get into 'Tumpism'. Thank fu*k that is over.

For me, 2020 has been the busiest year ever (work-wise), you can read all about what we accomplished at Head On here. My creative work suffered. I look to capture some part of humanity in my work which requires people to be around. With lockdowns and given that you can be contagious before symptoms present, it was better to play it safe and stay in my bubble.

In 2021 I will be getting back into making my Lazy and Restless monthly zine. It will also be time to reconnect with society, I have spent enough time at home alone. Of course, there are also some other top-secret projects in the works too. Sign up for my newsletter to keep up to date.

Here are twenty photos I took that sum up 2020 for me. Hover on the image for the title and caption.

After the fireworks

Crowd crush heading home after the midnight fireworks. Intersection of George and Bridge St. Attendance was down on past years during the bushfires and was manly tourists. At least from what I could tell.

Action on climate change rally

During Nov-Jan many people could not leave home due to poor air quality as bushfires raged up and down the East coast of Australia. Rally’s across the country to get the Federal government to finally take action climate change after a decade of inaction.

Foot and sandal

During February as a creative challenge I spent the whole month shooting hand held 1/2 second exposures.

Back streets of Mardi Gras

The last large public gathering before the Covid-19 lockdowns. Over the past few years I have been going to Mardi Gras but not for the parade/march but for all the popup street dance parties.

First day of working from home

I started working from home in March which would last right though to late Nov. After the work day I started to explore my own local Suburb. It was only after taking this shot I felt like I could make a body of work.

Panic buying

Just before and during lockdown many products were just not on the shelf at the supermarket. Toilet paper, pasta, rice, root vegetables and other long life items often were not on the shelf. I did a lot of take away during this time.

Sutherland centrelink - 25/03/20

So many casual and part staff went onto job seeker and job keeper overnight that it crashed the centrelink website. There was a long que outside the centrelink offices for 1-2 months. (2 images stitched)

Multi-purpose testing centre

A drive though testing centre opened up 100m from my fount door. There was always a steady stream of 30+ cars every time I walked past. It later moved to the Sutherland basketball stadium to handle a larger volume of testing.

Take away

Local takeaway did a brisk business during the start of lock down.

Working from home distractions

One of the more unique distractions of working from home.

Playground is closed

During the hight of the lockdown all council parks closed their play areas. The Sutherland shire council placed plastic fencing around all play equipment and cable tied up all swings.

Laneway garage

42nd street. Plate 19, American photographs

After a workshop during Head (On)line Natan Dvir gave a lecture on using google street view as street photography. It inspired me to recreate a classic book using street view. I settled on American photographs by Walker Evans as I had misplaced my copy of The Americans at the time.
It has been a good way to stay creative during winter where all my daylight hours were taken up by work.

Light abstract

On sunny days the cars parked on the street would reflect the sun back onto the ceiling of my home office.

Mytho or hand sanitiser?

Many shops started stocking toilet paper and hand sanitiser that you would not expect. Also of note the local bottle shop let you buy a six pack and a roll of toilet paper.

Suburban sculpture

Melbourne cup 2020

Sutherland TAB moments after the race finished.

Runaway mask

The Alphabet on a pole

Christmas lights in Sutherland