One of my friends and a former work colleagues, Jagjeet, tagged me in a post about a portrait competition. The competition, run by the National Portrait Gallery and The Duchess of Cambridge was named “hold still”. The brief was to create a unique photographic portrait which captures the spirit, mood, hopes, fears and feelings of the nation as we continue to deal with the Coronavirus outbreak. There is no prize money for the competition, the 100 winning entries will appear in a virtual exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.
So I had an idea about a vicar standing outside a closed church, wearing a clerical collar and face mask. I thought it would make a powerful statement about the effects of Covid-19 on the church parish
So I emailed the Reverend Margaret Caunt, vicar of St. Mary’s in Arnold, Nottingham, asking if she would help me in the competition. Less than 24 hours later we were outside her closed church doing a photoshoot.
Margaret was really helpful and patient as I photographed her. We talked about various topics, my photography, my family, our dogs, how Covid was effecting the church, the restoration of the clock tower, Arnold’s history, the gravestones, politics, football. Margaret has been vicar of St. Mary’s for four years, I am surprised I have never met or seen her before as my usual walk with Ruby takes me alongside the church and vicarage.
I told Margaret I would email her a shortlist of my photos for the competition and would appreciate her opinion on them. I emailed some headshots and full length shots, four different poses in colour and black and white i.e. 8 images in total. After some email exchanges and phone calls I decided on the one you see above. This was Margaret’s favourite, she said it took her breath away when she first saw it. I was favouring one of my headshots, but then decided that the competition might get quite a few headshot and mask entries.
I had to write a narrative to accompany my entry into the competition (1000 characters max), I wrote the following …. ..
"The Reverend Margaret Caunt , vicar of St. Mary’s Church, Arnold ,Nottingham had to close the church doors as part of lockdown. This presented difficult challenges as Margaret no longer had direct contact with her congregation and the people of her parish. Margaret had to diversify and reach out in different ways. She set up support groups for those parishioners who were vulnerable and shielding, she regularly phones her congregation and has now started doing Zoom webcam worship from the vicarage. Hopefully, Margaret will soon be planning to open the church doors. The image shows Margaret on the church path, which is the main entrance to the church. Lockdown has affected the whole of the country, but cannot stop God’s work and words."
I hope you all like my photo, the competition closed tonight, so I have now shared my image online
Thank you for being a terrific stranger Margaret, it was lovely to meet you.
Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
https://www.flickr.com/groups/100strangers
My own strangers can be seen here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/57144254@N08/albums/72157657822400168
I imagine this competition will enjoy your entry very much. An excellent portrait, instant and easy fav.
I very much hope this is chosen for the exhibition, good luck!
Fav
Just a thought, was this not the church your daughters got married in Phil...I see my recognise the pathway?
@pdulis thank you Peter, thanks for your lovely words
@dulciknit Hi Alison, nice to see you back on 365, I am pleased you picked out the key elements of the shot , I am really pleased with the photo
@sangwann Dione thanks for your awesome words :)
@casablanca Thanks Casa' , I thought this might connect with you as I know you worship at church every week . Margaret was a really nice lady, I am sure you would like her :)
@quietpurplehaze Haze, thanks for your lovely reply and great comments. Interesting that you use the word "sombre" as Margaret used that word when she described the photo ;)
@maggiemae thanks Maggie, I am pleased you like this photo , it does work well
@cocobella Corinne , thank you , I think there will be thousands of entries, so it will be difficult
@gamelee thanks Lee, I am pleased with the photo , I think it does make a statement :)
@jackies365 jackie, I am pleased you like the photo , your words are so good to read :)
@beryl beryl , your analysis is spot on , thank you for the lovely words :)
@julzmaioro thanks julia , i may post the headshot in a few days :)
@nickspicsnz thank you Nick , I am pleased you like this
@louannwarren Lou that is so kind of you to say , thank you :)
I went onto the National Portrait Gallery website today and they have had over 30,000 entries !!! It is going to be a long shot to be in the top 100 , plus how do you judge over 30K entries ?
@fbailey thanks felicity , it was a planned shoot, but it has captured the situation we have found ourselves in !