Covid Ward

Working in a busy, large national hospital as a Clinical Photographer was an entirely new departure for me. Then Covid happened. But we carried on, departments across the hospital coming together, a hive of activity in an otherwise silent world. Cameras were cleaned, PPE was worn, rules were enforced.

It was difficult for all, but the my colleagues and friends were hit very hard. I remember standing in ICU for the first time in full PPE gear, uncomfortable, hot, and trying to see out through fogged safety goggles. Then I saw it… catching the eye of a colleague in similar dress… fear in her eyes.

To this day, her eyes sum up for me the emergence of the pandemic. A prelude to the isolation that would grip patients, families and staff. I had the pleasure of photographing a particular ward mid pandemic and my aim was to capture the eyes and personalities of the strong, friendly, courageous, caring staff. To give a sense of people pulling together and the positive atmosphere, like a beacon in terrible times. What struck me was that your colleagues became your family. As a photographer, I wanted to highlight the work, the kindness that these people had towards each other and the patients.