The Mallee Routes project is on hold during the public health lockdown to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus amongst the Australia population. The public health social restrictions during lockdown require that we can only travel within our postcode for exercise. There may be some lifting of restrictions in a week or so by the federal and state governments, as the former is anxious to get the economy moving.
So I have started to explore photographing the period of lockdown, self-isolation and social distancing; as distinct from continuing to make various types of locally based photos during the lockdown; or making film photos for an online exhibition of film photos made during the lockdown being organized by the Friends of Photography Group (FOPG). Photographing the period of lockdown is about our experiences of lockdown. This is a unique time and photography can, and should be, a part of pausing and reflecting upon our relationship with our surroundings.
The exploration is experimental in that there has been a shift away from a conventional documentary approach. This means that I am stepping outside my comfort zone. I have been thinking about photographing in a more controlled way by working wth people in a set up situation in specific locations. As I do not have a treasure trove or storehouse of props to use in these situations, my approach will need to be very simple.