“I am Here… With You!” Connecting in Pandemic Times.
I AM HERE... WITH YOU! Connecting with others in a safe and socially distant way while being present and in the moment with them. These are 2020 photos from my nearby nature walks with friends.
These safe outdoor strolls became highlights during the pandemic as we connected in nature, witnessed the beauty of the changing seasons together, and had safe and invigorating walking visits punctuated with updates and storytelling. Although these visits were infrequent and spread across this isolating and unprecedented Pandemic year, they were enjoyed in the moment, captured with photos, and now cherished as needed positive memories from 2020.
Thanks to Meghan, Jenny, Kirsten and Dave for participating in these ‘autumn feet’ portraits!
“I am not a before. I am not an after. I am here now — Learning, struggling, stumbling, and loving— Now is the masterpiece. Growth is the juicy consequence.”
Creative Prompt: “I Am Here … With You!”
Invitation.
Capturing snapshots of our feet with friends (while being safe) can connect us to ourselves and others and provide a tangible record of the meaningful visit.
This prompt can again gently remind us to be present in that moment in time and/or grateful for the connection we have with others (even if masks and social distancing change what connecting means). And, when our faces are covered with masks, why not change up the traditional portrait photo or ‘selfie’ and capture 'connecting feet'.
This photo project (like ‘I Am Here’) can be used to explore the colours, textures, patterns and forms of nature as we position our feet within the framed lens of the camera screen. Nature and the transformative elements of changing seasons continue to ‘paint’ these beautiful backdrops on which we place ourselves. This ongoing art project can provide prompts to look for interesting compositions and visual story settings where our feet become a form within that compositional frame or provide a narrative element of an emerging story or journey.
There is also a tangible legacy piece with the ‘I Am Here with You’ photo art project as images can be saved for future viewing and sharing, or revisited later to connect ourselves with past experiences or memories that inform our present.
Materials.
Again, similar to the ‘I Am Here’ creative prompt, a camera is all that is required for this creative prompt. Creating an art story from photos can become an interesting personal art project to explore.
