COVID 19- A Photographer's Perspective

Despite being only halfway through 2020, it’s been a year to forget so far, hasn’t it?

Doom and gloom has followed in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic, which has had a devastating impact on economies and people’s livelihoods.

Everywhere is under some degree of lock-down, with restrictions all around us in terms of movement, social interactions and our general day to day activities which we have taken for granted for so long. Terms like “the new norm” and “social distancing” are now part of our vocabulary, and we don’t set foot outside our front doors without face masks and hand sanitizers.

To enter shops and malls requires us to go through new levels of administration and checks. Travel is severely restricted, and working from home has become a necessity.

So how has all this impacted the photographic industry.

Well the year started pretty much as normal. Pros going about their day-to-day business on paid jobs, photo-journalists covering real-life stories. Shows, exhibitions and conferences with enthusiastic fashion and event photographers looking for their money shots. Travel and food bloggers with their smartphones, waiting for that new hotel, resort, restaurant or trendy bar to throw open its doors in anticipation of the rush of new customers.

The latest cameras and accessories launched in fanfares for those who chase the next best technological innovation. Then there’s the average person who just wants to capture moments in time with friends and family, celebrating or just enjoying the adventures and experiences of life’s journey. ... And then we got hit by COVID 19! To a large extent, the activities of a typical photographer, or those involved in the photographic industry, have been met with some big challenges. Not least, the fact that for months, mobility has been severely restricted. But out of those challenges, there must surely be opportunities? For me, this has certainly been the case. At long last, putting effort into the development of www.pepebond.com. Reading up on articles and undertaking online courses to address gaps in my skills and knowledge. Finally getting to grips with those Social Media platforms.

Tuning up my abilities in post-processing and improving on the asset management of my photographs. Zooming, Skyping, sharing, networking and forward planning with like-minded friends. In fact, to be honest, I’ve hardly picked up my camera during lock-down, but this has allowed me to focus much more on those areas of my photographic world which I have, to a large extent neglected in the recent past. So as we come out of this uncertain period, and navigate our way through the new norm, I’ve taken the opportunity to get my house in order. My challenge now is to build on the good work I’ve done in these last 3 months, and to use this to my advantage when business opportunities present themselves in the weeks and months to come. Stay safe, stay focused, stay organised and above all stay positive everyone! Alan (aka pepebond)