After the good luck of her COVID-19 “Hold Still” portrait assignment, Duchess Kate of Cambridge and the Uk National Portrait Gallery turned the hundred winning images into a book.
“When we look at the COVID-19 pandemic in the coming decades, we will talk about the demanding situations we have all faced: the ones we have enjoyed we have lost, the prolonged isolation of our families and friends, and the tension in our key workers. . ” The Duchess wrote in an advent of the book, which will be published in May.
“But we will also not forget the positive aspects: the acts of kindness, the helpers and heroes that emerged from all walks of life, and how combined we adapt to a new normality. Through Hold Still, I sought to use the strength of photography to create a lasting record of what we were all experiencing: capturing the stories of Americans and documenting vital moments for families and communities while living the pandemic. “
Kate, a 38-year-old photography enthusiast, presented the task to the National Portrait Gallery last May, looking for a way to allow others who were blocked by the coronavirus pandemic to share percentages of their stories and experiences. , a hundred winners were selected, some of which were posted online and on billboards or outdoor posters across the UK as part of a rally effort to close.
“From photographs of NHS staff concerned about those fighting the virus, to families sharing tender moments through closed windows, each of the photographs gives an idea of what others were going through in this unprecedented time,” Kate wrote. “For me, the strength of photographs lies in the moving, non-public stories behind them. I was very happy to have the opportunity to communicate with some of the photographers and models, to listen to their stories first hand, from moments of joy, love and network spirit. , to deep sadness, pain, isolation and loss. “
“Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020” includes the hundred winning photographs and accompanying stories, as well as highlights from the network’s exhibits. It can be enjoyed online and at UK bookstores on May 7, anniversary date. launch of the project.
The proceeds will be shared between the UK intellectual fitness charity Mind and the network programmes and the National Portrait Gallery.
“A not unusual topic of these conversations is how the lockdown reminded us of the importance of human connection and the enormous price we place in our relationships with the other people around us,” he added. “While we are physically separated, these photographs remind you that as families, communities, and nations, we love each other more than we ever imagine.
Contributor: Maria Puente
More: Duchess Kate’s video concludes with a successful photo assignment for a ”Hold Still’ pandemic
And: Duchess Kate, in an interview, hopes to ‘share a moment in time’ with a photographic assignment on the coronavirus