What began as necessity evolved into true collaboration, and within that space, intimacy emerged—unexpected, sometimes fragile, often luminous. These were not the pixelated remnants of Zoom calls or Facetime sessions, degraded by compression and distance. They were full-scale photographs, made possible through the active engagement of the subjects themselves—who held not just the space, but the apparatus. That convergence of presence and participation became essential to the intimacy and vulnerability we uncovered together.

Now, these portraits remain as markers of that uncertain period, but they also offer something more enduring: a reminder that even across digital fragmentation, connection is possible; a form of hope that doesn’t insist on grand gestures but finds meaning in the act of reaching out—of continuing, together.

The title of this series borrows from Nick Cave, whose own meditations on grief and grace offered a kind of roadmap through that time. These images carry some of that spirit—a belief that beauty, connection, and the simple insistence on life can persist, even in the most bewildering circumstances.

The images shown here are from the earliest, most unsettled months—March to May 2020. The remaining portraits and reflections will appear in a photo book planned for release in 2027.