After a full day photographing people from a distance in San Francisco last Saturday, I spent the next day over in the East Bay, where I’m originally from.
My first stop was my friend Hannah’s house on the Oakland-Emeryville border. Like my time in SF, I planned to take portraits of people in the East Bay from a safe distance with a very long lens. When I saw Hannah open her door, it was the first good friend I had seen in person since March. Even though she was far away and I couldn’t give her a hug, it was emotional.
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That day, I photographed many more people — families, couples, singles — who were staying home to do their part. It was beautiful driving around both San Francisco and Oakland and seeing all of the rainbows in windows and folks still thriving.
Thank you all for letting me see you for a moment and helping me feel like a creative again.
Chris Niles and Hannah Skelton, Oakland-Emeryville border
“I’m Hannah, and I work as a hairstylist, and my partner Chris works at Pandora. I’ve been spending the mornings coordinating virtual haircuts to support my clients during quarantine, and in the afternoons reading Cosey Fanni Tutti’s memoir Art Sex Music while Chris works from the breakfast nook.
“We have a band together called Abracadabra, and we’ve been making the most of this strange time by focusing on promoting our upcoming album online since live shows are indefinitely postponed. We’ve found that keeping active has been great for our mental health, and make time for daily jumping jacks or Pilates in our little apartment. We’re trying new recipes, and cooking with way more fresh herbs.
“Before this all started we were really quite social people. We wanted to participate in this because we were excited about the idea of putting something on our calendar and seeing another human in real life, even if from six feet away.”
Brad Amorosino, Trestle Glen, Oakland
“I’m an illustrator and make comics. I also play music with a band called Kim, and I do design direction at 826 Valencia, a nonprofit that supports under-resourced students with their writing skills.
“My quarantine has involved drawing a lot and making comics. Sending art to friends. Device addiction. Watching “Drag Alive!” Perfecting the apartment arrangement. Loneliness. Excitement for change. I participated in this photo series because I would love to meet some new artists. Hi!”
Michael Bridgmon, East Oakland
“I’m a record producer/emcee — stage name James Wavey aka Alleyes Manifest. My overall goal is to create timeless music to inspire people. I develop most of my work in my home studio and draw from life experiences outside.
“I self-released my long-awaited album Babe, available on Bandcamp at the beginning of shelter in place. I’m currently working on preproduction for my next album, Pineapple Sunrise, and releasing my third album, Otoño, on vinyl courtesy this month.”
Bob and Jane, Upper Rockridge, Oakland
“We’re retired professionals. My husband Bob’s lifelong interest in photography is a major activity, while I continue in retirement as an educator, author, and member of the Society of Fearless Grandmothers and 1,000 Grandmothers for Future Generations.
“Having retired from the biomedical world, Bob has been following the progress of the efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus. With no live sports, we’ve been watching less television and doing more reading. Bob has been taking an hour or so a week when out grocery shopping to take photographs. The 1918 pandemic was not well documented and he is trying to photograph what we are living through. I’ve been promoting my April-released book, White Snake Diary: Exploring Self-Inscribers, highlighting the role of records when we crave both the documentarian and the reflective functions during this time of tragedy and cocooning. I’m also meditating and praying for awareness, healing, and transformation to a just, balanced, and sustainably healthy Mother Earth for the current babies and future generations.
“We wanted to participate in this documentation to do everything we can to support this photographer and all independent contractors during this fragile economic period.”
Justin O’Neil and Maclaine DeFelice, Jack London Square, Oakland
“I’m a colorist and Justin is a personal trainer; at the end of this month we will be celebrating our seven-year anniversary. We’ve been living in our loft in Jack London Square for six years.
“We both consider ourselves lucky that we are able to work during this time. Justin is doing virtual training sessions and I’m doing color consultations. That still leaves a lot of free time. We’ve been cooking and baking A LOT. We’ve also taken the opportunity to focus on our self-care, creative workouts, continuing education, tackling big chores we’ve been putting off, watching TV, and really embracing the time-honored tradition of cocktail hour!
“We decided to participate in this project so we could help document this unprecedented event in our history.”
Richard Brown and Cash, Piedmont, Oakland
“I’m a professional copywriter/editor and an amateur musician and fashion enthusiast. Still working (at home), but managed to write a song and rewatch about five seasons of the original Roseanne. I wanted a cool portrait with my handsome dog.”
Liz, Sean, and Parker Levatino, West Oakland
“Our pocket of West Oakland has always been pretty quiet under normal circumstances, so the shelter in place hasn’t changed it too much other than less car traffic, which is nice. People are friendlier on the street, even at a distance. All four of the houses around us, ours included, have started gardens since we’ve been sheltering in place, and it’s been nice to connect over that.
“We’re both privileged in that we can work from home and it’s wonderful to get to spend so much time with Parker at this age. But it’s also really hard trying to maintain two careers and care for a toddler without any help. Parker is such a happy kid, but it’s becoming apparent that he misses his friends and teachers at daycare and doesn’t understand why he can’t see them.”
Vanessa Solis, Piedmont, Oakland
“I’m a freelance photographer originally from Concord, but have been in Oakland for close to nine years now.
“I’m trying to stay creative, though it can be unmotivating at times. I’ve been catching up on reading and taking care of work projects and home projects. I’ve also been catching up on movies, shows, and doing a little binge-watching. I’m currently getting through Married With Children. I’ve also been getting back into being a home bartender. I love making cocktails and learning about what makes a great drink!
“This project sounded fun to partake in — I live by myself and don’t have many friends or family close by. After weeks of being in quarantine, it was nice to see a friendly face and to be able to talk to a friend in person, even at a distance. It helped to lift up my spirits.”
Dexter Simmons, West Oakland
“I’m a fashion designer/stylist born and raised in the Bay. All my jobs have been grounded and Fashion Week is on pause, so I have been in a bit of shock. I have been making masks for friends, family, and medical workers. Been catching up on adulting and pillaging movie streaming services. The best thing I have done is a daily schedule. Without it, my mind starts to go all doom and gloom.
“I offered to be photographed because I want to show that people are staying in and doing the right thing. I have ups and downs with this whole thing but at the end of the day there is a bit of optimism for the future. Guess all we can do is wait.”
Emily Jane White, Piedmont, Oakland
“I’m a songwriter/musician/touring artist. During the quarantine I’ve been working a lot on music, and a backlog of personal and business tasks that I didn’t have time to get to these past years. I also spend time practicing the Feldenkrais Method, meditation, and keeping up on current events.
“Kristin asked me if I was up for participating in the project, and I gladly accepted because she’s an incredible photographer and I love working with her. Also, the current situation creates particular constraints, within which everyone is finding a way to work. For artists, finding ways to create or perform work that requires the involvement of others during the pandemic is interesting to me. Never would I choose to be photographed outside my apartment, because I don’t find it ideal, but this was an opportunity to collaborate with Kristin in capturing a unique time and place. I don’t think we’ll forget this moment.”
Bailey Kobelin, Albany
“I’m an artist from the Bay Area. During quarantine I’ve been pretty busy keeping up with online university and adjusting to all of the changes. I wanted to participate in this project because I have enjoyed seeing the creativity behind porch photos and their unique documentation. It’s powerful to see the ways artists are still finding their space to create, using these social transformations to their advantage.”
The Pasquali family, Rockridge, Oakland
“We are a family in Rockridge — Greg builds housing and I work in philanthropy and host the Airbnb property Rockridge Casita. Our kids are in preschool and kindergarten, so while juggling work and kids during quarantine, we’ve helped our daughter learn to read, hung out in our backyard, and done lots of crafts with garbage.
“We haven’t been hosting Airbnb guests, so wanted to show what we’re doing with the space instead (it now houses a trampoline and home office) and we wanted to thank the essential workers taking care of our community.”
