LAist is a los Angeles
Our news is loose on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Subscribe to our daily newsletter on coronavirus. To our nonprofit public service journalism: Donate Now.
An appeal was introduced on Instagram: hidden loose portraits, DM for direction. A sign gave the impression in the yard to passers-by and a network of friends, rs and social media fans came here to document this era we’re all looking to go through.
It was the concept of Kevin Scanlon, an award-winning photographer founded in Los Angeles, who photographs celebrities (Cate Blanchett, Donald Glover and Neil Young, to name a few). Scanlon’s work had dried up at the beginning of the pandemic and he was looking for some other way to create and connect.
During 3 weekends in May, an unpretentious driveway in Los Feliz became a legitimate, if improvised, portrait studio.
“This task is helping me cope, you know?” “Says Scanlon.” I’m looking to figure out how to read other people through their eyes and just through their eyes, that’s all we have now. Besides, I can see my friends again, whom I haven’t noticed in a long time. “
There is much communication about other people who were not dressed in masks in those days and the reasons why, however, on Scanlon’s driveway, other people have thoroughly explained why they were dressed in masks and how they lived in a pandemic.
Jennifer Verdier came here for a portrait and a visit. She had not been outdoors for anything other than buying groceries and essentials and seemed almost dizzy.
“Kevin and I are old friends and I saw [the Instagram post] this morning and I thought, why not do a photo shoot about the pandemic? Array… I don’t faint very often, I’m like a wild cat. I haven’t been so far from home since it was cold.”
The atmosphere on the driveway was friendly; People chatted as they waited their turn, watching other people get in the background that was glued to the look of space and sanding to create a DIY studio. Scanlon worked with two other cameras, a medium-format and a 35 mm camera, leaning between the two while giving orders to his subjects with his outlaw-style bandana mask. Several times he kindly told his subjects, “chin down” and “a little closer to me.”
“I communicate a lot during photo shoots, which I’m sure many publicists hate me, because they just need to take the picture and leave Array … but, for me, having a verbal exchange allows other people to say they are being photographed and generating the original moments I’m looking for,” Scanlon said.
Everyone who came to the shoot had another type of mask, his personality was exposed. Some were homemade, others bought in stores, some makeshift scarves and some were military-style filters. And it’s been a collection in Los Angeles without some puppies (unmasked) thrown at the harvester as well.
Skippy Simon came here with a diary, with double mask and gloves. He looked for other people to realize how important it was: “I need other people to wake up and realize, Hey, wait a second, maybe I take this (swear) a little more seriously.”
For some people, delight is touching. Becca Weber explained how exciting it was to have an explanation for why she showered that day, then choked a little while talking about what it meant to her to be there.
“I think capturing other people at this specific time is something we need to go back to. Find small chunks of sun or sadness. There are so many things we can’t see other people’s masks right now. I am a pretty smiling user and I feel like I have to do a lot more … it’s great to be with other people again… I didn’t know I’d be so moved.”
Costume designer Suzanne Barnes spoke about the demanding situations facing the film industry through COVID-19. “It will take me a long time to get used to it, but I clearly perceive that it is obligatory and safe. I know we’re all going through, we’re all together, which is important.”
We hear we’re all in the same boat. And you know what? For a few hours, at a safe distance, on a sunny afternoon, on the edge of a busy road, we were something like that.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU: HOW (NEW) THE