They distribute personal hygiene kits to those who are living on the street with no access to the means of virus prevention. I decided to join the boys of the Bike System, a group of cyclists riding their bicycles with music and joy through the almost empty streets of the city. I feel privileged to have a comfortable place to live - because to be in quarantine, you need a home, first of all. I decided that I would only go out to tell the stories of those who generously take care of other people. Meanwhile, I made sure of the precautions and acquired all the necessary equipment for the job: masks, goggles, gloves and alcohol. But out of respect for my family, I decided not to leave home for a period, especially in those last days, when my grandfather was saying goodbye to life. My grandfather Antonio passed away a few weeks ago.Īs a photographer, my instincts inevitably take me to document what is happening in Brazil. Unfortunately what I feared the most happened. When the coronavirus spread through Italy, my biggest concern was for my parents and grandparents. My whole family is in Italy, in the area most affected by the pandemic, Lombardy. I am an Italian photographer and I've been living in the city of São Paulo for about six years. In the cemetery of Vila Formosa, the largest cemetery in Latin America, dozens of graves have been opened every day to receive the growing number of Brazilians killed by COVID-19. To feel the fear, the anguish, the boredom and the unhappiness of people. Going to the streets in the middle of a pandemic is to feel the invisible enemy. At the same time, it was necessary to reflect on my role as a photojournalist, which led me to restructure and strengthen myself in a process of personal growth. When I was back at work some questions arose, especially about how I could protect myself from exposure to the virus in these vulnerable times. The streets becoming more and more empty and the struggle to learn how to deal with the emptiness and the time. Enough time to realize how the situation changed so fast. ![]() As soon as I landed in Recife, I received confirmation that there were seven people suspected of having the coronavirus in Recife and the stay-at-home order in the state was still a measure that was being considered, but had not been implemented. On March 12, I was returning to Brazil on the last scheduled flight between Barcelona and Recife. Right: A detail of a dead bird at Rachel's backyard on the first week of quarantine.Ĭamila Svenson / Pétala Lopes / Coletivo Amapoa Left: Sofia at a small square near home, during the third week of quarantine. Yet, I also think it is important to tell stories of people who have no alternative but to expose themselves to contamination by the virus. They are people, prepared for all the risks during a relentless pandemic and they get well-deserved recognition. Every day we see pictures of doctors and nurses and their incredible work. People who received no employment bond or economic subsidies and need a daily income to get home and supply their basic needs. ![]() I started a portrait series called Not My Choice, documenting people who need to work and cannot stay at home during the quarantine. My heart sank and I understood what I had to tell. Instead of talking, she answered by closing her eyes. Her protection was a cheap face mask and no gloves at all. One day at the supermarket I talked to an employee about her fears of daily exposure. Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have spent hours trying to understand this situation, intrigued by how I could report it. A woman walks in the street of Salvador, Brazil.
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