Winchmore Hill photographer Katrina Campbell is planning to turn her online exhibition Tales of Life under Lockdown into a book with the title When We All Stayed at Home and has launched a Kickstarter campaign to have it printed and published in time for Christmas. The idea isn't to create a large coffee table book to be saved for special occasions, but an A5 volume that can be shared at the kitchen table or read on the bus. What an excellent way of recording and remembering an extraordinary year!
Katrina began taking photos at the start of the first lockdown, in her own street, and eventually had more than a hundred photos of people standing at their doorsteps, with stories of how they were experiencing this disconcerting and troubling time.
This project started in week one of lockdown, photographing people on my road in north London, and recording their experiences. Word spread and soon I was photographing a diverse range of people from across the borough. My daily bike ride took me to a new road, a new doorstep every day; people were keen to share their highs and lows of those months.
I now have a collection over 100 photographs. They're heartwarming and often poignant stories that celebrate people's resilience and positivity in strange times. The area stretches from Winchmore Hill, Palmers Green, Enfield, Southgate to Edmonton, Tottenham, Wood Green and Bounds Green. The tales of home schooling, self isolating, connecting with nature, and slowing down (to name a few) will resonate with anyone who experienced lockdown in the UK or abroad.
Katrina has already obtained pledges for more than her initial target of £2,500 from more than a hundred backers. If you want to get involved, you only have until 6pm on Thursday 26th November. There are various awards on offer, ranging from a free copy of the book if you pledge £15, to your own doorstep photo session for £125,
But whatever you do, be sure to visit the online exhibition or Katrina's Instagram page.