Poignant Portfolio no. 18: Neil Kramer
Quarantine Chronicles
by Neil Kramer
In March, 2020, my Queens neighborhood became the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. Through unusual circumstances, I found myself hunkering down in my two-bedroom, one bathroom apartment with my 86-year-old mother from Florida and my ex-wife from Los Angeles. We couldn't go out to shop for food, and it seemed like I couldn't even take a bath without my mother or my ex-wife walking in on me. That's when I got the idea to document our confinement, through my photography, with accompanying text, and a good dose of humor. To get through the biggest challenges of our situation, we would set up elaborate photo shoots in our apartment, based on the real-life circumstances in our living situation. What started as a temporary living arrangement, and project, has lasted almost a year. Staging the photos has helped us survive without driving each other completely crazy. As it evolved, I realized that "Quarantine in Queens also has become a personal commentary on caregiving, love, and family responsibility. I think that is a major reason it has resonated with so many people.
Editor’s Note: Due to the diaristic quality of the series, I have laid out this post to be viewed and read from top to bottom rather than our more usual formatting.
After receiving my MFA at the USC Film School, I worked as a writer in the entertainment business in Los Angeles, developing projects for Disney and HBO. As a photographer, I take a storyteller's approach to the art of imagery.
Mastering the technical aspects is an essential part of the photographer's job, but what makes a photograph truly special is "the story." Whether I am shooting in the street, making portraiture, or documenting events, my aim is to find the narrative spark that makes the images touch the emotions of the viewer. This can be the determined gait of a stranger crossing the street, the way a married couple dances at a wedding, or that glint in a sole client's eye during a portraiture session. It is always the story.
When working with my clients, communication is key. Most of us feel anxiety about our imagined physical faults and our inability to pose for the camera. My goal is to make you comfortable, and to help you to discover the beauty and power of your own personal story. There is no one out there like YOU. When we work together with open hearts and minds, something magical happens. Trust plus honesty equals beauty and art.
Let's make some art.
~Neil Kramer
From the Editor
Early in the fall of 2020, I met Neil Kramer during an online discussion in the Flak Photo Group run by Andy Adams over at Facebook. I no longer remember what the discussion was about, but I do recall that whatever he said sparked me to google his project. I did not realize at the time that the woman was his ex-wife, although I did presume the elder of the two women was his mother (or mother-in-law.) I remain in awe not only of his ability to quarantine for such a long period in a small apartment, but also of how well he got his family members to “perform” for the camera – I’d long given up asking my own family to do so… This work seems to have deeply resonated with many more people than just myself, as the list of publications that have featured this work is lengthy and prestigious. To me, that is truly a tribute to Neil’s ability to find the humor and the pathos of the pandemic era while simultaneously conveying a portrait of deep family love.
–Diana Nicholette Jeon