When the first wave of COVID-19 hit Los Angeles and the city went into lockdown, the stillness of a usually bustling place felt dreamlike. With the grind of the city stripped away and shelter-in-place mandates went into effect, the Sidewalk School Project suddenly faced unexpected challenges, too. The project’s commitment to out-of-the-box curriculum was challenged to design and offer nascent pathways for connected creativity. Out of this quiet emerged virtual photography workshops and an experiment in noticing, documenting, and sharing presence during a time of isolation.

Inspired by photographer Lucas Foglia’s contribution to The Photographer’s Playbook: Assignment #3.

“Photograph something that is normal, like a cup of coffee, and make it seem shocking.”

Photography in a Time of Isolation: COVID. Capturing the ordinary in an extraordinary way

Los Angeles Center for Photography: Photographing on a Theme

In this workshop, students learn to build a photo series around a cohesive theme. We begin with a personal object that sparks conversation about meaning and story. From there, guided questions help students uncover deeper ideas—like connection, change, or absence—and translate them into images. The process concludes with an artist statement to articulate their vision.

One student, reflecting on the value of friendship, created a series exploring the tension between connection and isolation. Empty fire escapes and repeating windows suggest distance, while a single lit window signals human presence; a connection felt as much through absence as through presence. Photographs by Johnnie, 15

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