The last night things felt “normal”. These photos were taken in mid-March. Although Covid was a topic of conversation- it was still a news story that just made you nervous. I took the negatives to be developed right away, but forgot one roll in my camera. These shots are from that roll, developed months later via no contact drop off. Taken Sunday, March 22, less than two weeks after the banana shoot with Jenna at 538. All non-essential businesses were mandated to close at 8PM that evening. I purchased myself some plants, hoping they would make my anticipated two weeks at home a little more cheerful. The exterior of the warehouse where we shot the banana pics. One of the first houses I photographed for my social distance portrait project.
I began a project doing social distance portraits. I would walk to my friends houses, and snap a portrait of them in or in front of their house from a safe distance. I worked on the project obsessively, and now how hundreds of photos of the New York City underground on lockdown.
This series is currently being compiled for a forthcoming zine. I estimate that there are at least one hundred different homes documented. I shot the series at every chance that I had. In the end, I think the project may have saved my life.
I stopped doing my social distance portrait series after I began protesting. The beach was summers’ saving grace.My Father on Father’s Day. Upright bass on the boardwalk.I often felt like a teenager again. Hanging out on sidewalks, train tracks.Block party. Bushwick, Brooklyn. There was live music until the cops shut it down the moment the sunset.
Posterboy 2000
Inspired by Theo Ehret’s “Exquisite Mayhem”.
I used some Soft Skin Latex pieces that were on loan as an excuse to take photos. I needed the excuse.Devil’s Dildo commissioned me to shoot their album art and some promotional photos. Instead of turning a profit, we spent the whole budget on taking a trip to a love motel in New Jersey. Devil’s Dildo in Soft Skin Latex. We were also able to shoot some photos at TV Eye after hours.
HÜSTLER commissioned some work soon thereafter. We rented an Air B n’ B upstate, close to an abandoned psych ward. I was so pleased to making music-related work again.
Children With Dog Feet
An ode to end of Summer tanlines.“Strippers worst nightmare” , the dreaded string.
Gavilán Rayna Russom. Promotional shots supporting “Trans Verberation”. We were inspired by Catholic guilt and 80s Madonna.
On set for Twisted Thing video, directed by Ali Logout.
Day one of road trip. LA to Las Vegas. Ed outside the first prison that he went to, now abandoned.
For Safe Word artworkI wanted to phone to appear melted and warped. The track is about working customer service over the phone.
Restroom at the Hoover Dam
I feel obligated to mention that I did not shoot any photographs indoors/ the models without masks unless the models and myself had quarantined and gotten tested. I followed CDC guidelines to the best of my ability, shooting or not.
I am immunocompromised, and do my best to protect myself and others.
I felt that I needed to practice photography as a form of harm reduction. Like most artists, the pandemic presented limitations to my work that I thought would be impossible to navigate at first. This is a celebration of the photos I was able to take in spite of this years’ circumstances.
More on my experience will be published alongside the Social Distance portrait series.
2 thoughts on “Covid Chronicles, March – December 2020”
hey Jane
noticed your posts since a while are now only viewable with a password not sure if you’re interested in keeping me as a follower but if you are i hope to receive the password that is required 😉
Hi Renate! I usually make a password protected post for about a day so I can have Margaret or a friend proof-read before it is published. The password is now taken off!
JANE PAIN 
hey Jane
noticed your posts since a while are now only viewable with a password not sure if you’re interested in keeping me as a follower but if you are i hope to receive the password that is required 😉
/Renate
Hi Renate! I usually make a password protected post for about a day so I can have Margaret or a friend proof-read before it is published. The password is now taken off!