South Africa, Cape Town, Kent, South African, 30, Photographer, N/A
General
How is the situation in your city/ country? Is there a 2nd wave yet?
The situation is somewhat confusing. It feels as if we are back to normal but work is slow and we are now in our third wave. The government cannot enforce too many more restrictions as it would most certainly cripple our already fragile economy.
How did the atmosphere in your country change within the last months?
There is definite feeling of isolation, with friends and relatives living overseas, and the current travel bans in place and the enforcement of quarantine restrictions make it impossible both financially and practically for them to head home. This has taken a toll on everyones mental state and has given us all a sense of uncertainty for the future. It feels like we are all suffering from a form of seperation anxiety.
How are you and your family?
The family is good, but as previously mentioned we are all suffering from various forms of cabin fever, and we are eager to get back to travelling. As a photographer and the type of work I produce, travelling was and is an intergal part of the way in which I generate my income. So in the meantime I have had to put my long term goals on hold and rather work from month to month.
What was the biggest challenge for you within the last months?
The lack of work and being back home for such a long period of time has affected how I see Cape Town. It always energised me when I came back after being on the road for long stretches at a time. It now seems to have this feeling of lacklustre, but I am fortunate that I have some personal projects to wrap up, which are keeping me engaged and focused.
It feels like we are all suffering from a form of seperation anxiety.
Measures
When did you realize how serious the situation is?
The moment the government changed the lockdown from which was going to be a two week lockdown in March last year suddenly turned into months of continuous different forms of lockdown and travel restrictions.
How did your government react to the crisis? Which measures/restrictions were taken first?
They banned alcohol sales to curb the strain on hospitals and in particular their ICU wards. They also made sure everyone stayed home unless you were an essentail workers. This lasted 3 to 4 months, then slowly easing some the levels of lockdown but each one had its own set of rules and restrictions.
Are you satisfied with the measures of your government? What was good/bad?
I mean there is no blue print to this sort of pandemic. I mean to look back some of the restrictions were absurd like “no smoking” in public places or going for a walk on the beach. The biggest issue is how it has effected our economy and also the slow roll out of our vaccination program.
What would you like to say to your government?
Stop stealing from us and do your jobs for once.
Which sentence of a virologist/politician did you memorize the most?
“Two weeks to flatten the curve” was said by multiple politicians, and best of all was our Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zumas ban on tobacco during the first 4 months of long down.
Some of the restrictions were absurd like “no smoking” in public places or going for a walk on the beach.
The Virus
Do you know anybody who was infected with COVID-19 or even died?
Yes on both accounts.
Have you already done a Coronavirus test or have you been in quarantine?
I haven´t been for a test yet, as I haven´t shown any symptoms and therefore haven´t needed to quarantine either.
Are you afraid of getting infected with the Coronavirus?
Not really I am more worried to be asymptomatic and to transmit it unknowingly to other people.
I am more worried to be asymptomatic and to transmit it unknowingly to other people.
The lockdown
How long is/was your lockdown and what was allowed/what wasn´t?
Our first lockdown was for 21 days, and you where only permited to go out and buy groceries. Therafter, we had various adjustments and restrictions each time a new wave hit the country. We are now in Level 5 with a curfew from 21h00 to 4am. All restaurants are closed for 2 weeks for inhouse service but are permitted to serve take outs and do deliveries. The alcohol ban is once again in place.
Did you spend the lockdown time with somebody and what did you do during this time?
Yes, I spent it with my roommates and my girlfriend came to visit. I worked through my photographic archives and got all my admin done that I have been putting off for months. Between that I got more into cooking and trying to do Yoga everyday.
What did you miss the most during the lockdown? What helped you?
Seeing my family, surfing and being able to make images. Yoga and learning new things about my work online and being able to cooks meals 3 times a day kept my mind fresh and alert.
We are now in Level 5 with a curfew from 21h00 to 4am. All restaurants are closed for 2 weeks for inhouse service and alcohol ban is once again in place.
Changes
How did your work situation change within the last months (shorter hours, working from home, etc.)
In strict lockdown it all but stopped other than mailing images to publications etc.
How did your social life (relationship/friendships/dating) change due to the Corona crisis?
I only saw very specific people who were comfortable to be in groups. Some people I know are still laying low and it feels like they are still stuck in a self imposed lockdown. For a few months everything seems to get back to semi normal, but this has changed again and taken us back to strict lockdown measures.
What impact has the Corona crisis on your financial situation?
It has been challenging and probably the hardest hurdle I have had to face in my adult life. Without being able to travel and being able to take on the work I normally would, I have found it incredible hard to sustain the same momentum I had before Covid.
Social distancing: How does your daily life look like at the moment?
I wear a mask in public spaces and follow the protocols enforced at shops etc. Its pretty easy to follow the guidelines. Im not really one for crowded places likes shopping malls and theatres so it hasn´t been much of a change in that regard.
It has been challenging and probably the hardest hurdle I have had to face in my adult life.
Perception
Who are to your opinion the heroes of this crisis?
The healthcare workers that have had to work through questionable decisions by various governments around the world.
What did the crisis show you?
That humanbeings are incredibly social and need contact to grow and develop.
What will you appreciate more after the crisis?
Being able to do my job which prior to Covid totally all consumed my time and energy. I now have an ever bigger urge to make it happen and get back to where I was before Covid.
Which images will you never forget?
Phillip Montgomery made some pretty incredible images inside New York hospitals as well as during the Black Lives Matter protests while the pandemic was in full swing.
Which stories/incidents/experiences touched/shattered you the most?
People not being able to say goodby to their loved ones at the hospitals, fathers not being able to see their babies being born. It’s also terrible that so many talented health care workers succumbed to this virus and where not given the opportunity to being vacccinated in time. No good deed goes unpunished it would seem….
It’s terrible that so many talented health care workers succumbed to this virus and where not given the opportunity to being vacccinated in time.
Perspective
What are you afraid of right now?
I don’t believe its being afraid, rather than not getting caught up in the hysteria of this Virus. I believe that I feel more stress than before as I am still trying to generate an income to keep afloat until such time as things pick up again and we can get some sort of normallity back into our lives.
What gives you hope?
The sun is out today and I have had a good breakfast.
Are you planning to travel within the next months?
Not until I get vaccinated and have secured my financial situation.
Would you get yourself vaccinated against COVID-19?
Absolutley.
What can we all learn from this crisis?
That governments need to be more transparent and to communicate with each other during the early stages of these virus epidemics, so the whole world doesn’t end up getting infected and economies crumble.
If you could give 2020 a headline, what would it be?
The year that wasn´t.
Governments need to be more transparent and to communicate with each other during the early stages of these virus epidemics.