Page 14 - Capture Nov-Jan 2021

deafening. You have to remember that behind every large account is an actual human being who is trying to sort out their own place in the issue. And that can take time.”
As a photographer whose work has focused largely on adventure, the environment, and climate change, Richards is familiar with making astute observations about the human condition – an ability that was perhaps heightened by a near miss with an avalanche in Pakistan in 2011. From photographing grizzly bears in Yellowstone for Nat Geo to portraits of the world’s most disciplined athletes, over the last year Richards’ work has painted a detailed picture of our relationship with the natural world. But looking ahead, the American says that COVID-19 could reveal more than we like to show about our collective thoughts on nature, and ourselves. “We are a reactive species. That’s why we have a difficult time tackling issues like climate change. Because we don’t see the incremental temperature rise and until we are impacted by something personally, we don’t respond,” he says. “Basically, we’re saying, ‘Fuck everything else for the time being because at the moment I need to not die from these germs.”
Back on the home front
Arnold’s work from the epicentre of much of the strife in the United States will surely become of significant historical
ABOVE: In her home in Luanda, Lola, her baby, and her cousin Caesar discuss the legacy of decades of
war and their hopes for Angola’s future. From National Geographic’s story on the Okavango Delta.
TOP RIGHT:
In the normally full Auburn Gallipoli Mosque, its general manager, Ergun Genel prays alone on the first day
of Ramadan due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Auburn, NSW. 24 April, 2020.
importance, as will that of the Australian photographers who have been tasked to the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in our country. Spearheading reportage on the outbreak were Sydney Morning Herald photographers like Nick Moir, Louise Kennerly, and Kate Geraghty, with Geraghty most typically noted for her commitment to covering wars and conflicts overseas. In her years at The Sydney Morning Herald, Geraghty’s work has covered conflict, natural disasters, and epidemics, but as she says, the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented turbulence to daily life on her home soil. “We [at the Herald] are all used to covering crises, but during the initial phases of the virus when we didn’t know how contagious it was, we were forced to photograph at a distance and make pictures of people outside their homes. So, it was difficult to establish rapport,” says Geraghty. “But because this was so unprecedented, we also needed to convince the authorities, like NSW Health, of the importance of documenting this and gaining access to things like hospitals.”
Over the coming weeks, after long discussions with St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, Geraghty was given access to document the hospital’s response to confirmed COVID-19 cases and became the first media person allowed access to the “Red Zone” – St Vincent’s in-house term for their isolation ward and housing for confirmed COVID-19 cases. “Not only were they working on the normal load
14
capturemag.com.au
[capture] nov.20_jan.21