大象传媒

Covid-19: Pandemic portraits of St Albans show city's 'resilience and angst'

  • Published
Related topics
RaihaanahImage source, Nic Madge
Image caption,

Nic Madge's diptychs are accompanied by a comment from the subject

A photographer who has taken portraits of people living through the pandemic says the photos show their "resilience" but also highlights the "pain and angst" caused by Covid-19.

Nic Madge has taken pictures of people in St Albans, Hertfordshire, since October, and will exhibit them at .

He said the virus was the "biggest challenge to people living in the city for over 70 years".

"We are living through history."

Each of his subjects is shown with a facemask on, and off. Next to it is a caption which describes who they are and how they have been feeling.

Image source, Nic Madge

Mr Madge, a retired judge who lives in St Albans, said: "By listening to the people I've come to appreciate how many different responses, how many different lives there are.

"The portraits reflect the vitality and diversity of St Albans.

"The lives of some have been devastated. Others have hardly been touched.

"I've learnt how much people are working together to survive the pandemic and I've seen great public resilience and also significant personal pain and angst."

Image source, Nic Madge
Image source, Nic Madge

On two occasions people have "understandably burst into tears talking about the loss of a loved one", but others have been "very positive", he said.

"It's not just taking the photographs, it's meeting and listening to people that has reaffirmed my belief that most people in the world are good," he added.

Image source, Nic Madge
Image source, Nic Madge
Image source, Nic Madge
Image source, Nic Madge
Image source, Nic Madge

The Pandemic Portraits collection is being shared on Mr Madge's and and will be exhibited at , when it is allowed to reopen.

Find 大象传媒 News: East of England on , and . If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk, external