Stefanie Schmid Rincon

Country:

City:

Since this Pandemic has taken over, and we need to stay home for health and safety matters. The work life of most has changed. Home office for some, or no official office at all for others (Freelancers or artists) Myself as a photographer who works mainly on Events and Performance Music photography and is used to travelling, the year is basically a big blur in these times. I have been traveling most of the past years, so I am enjoying staying at home and trying to make the best out of it. 

I live by myself and have been already in self-isolation for over 45 days. Facetiming with friends and family has been a daily routine, to not feel so lonely and virtual coffee dates has been a great way to catch up with friends. Somehow, like every creative person, my fingers are starting to burn and I thought I needed to start a new photo project without leaving my apartment in berlin, where I am quarantined. Empty streets it’s not for me, since I enjoy having people in front of my lens. That’s how I got to experiment with the idea of virtual photo sessions with Female musician artists, that as well as me, would be right now travelling or on tour.

 My purpose was, that it should look like it wasn’t shot virtually, my intention, was that it looks like I was directly there and in many cases  it worked very well, so I am very glad about this outcome. I would ask the artist to show me around their home and tell me where they would have their morning coffee , which their fav. Spot in the house is or if there is a specific place they want to be portrayed. Some played their instruments for me (which was nice – I got some private music sessions ) , we would talk for about an hour, catch up or get to know each other. Since this was all taken during real time quarantine, it was a nice way of distraction from both sides, and also a nice company and being creative together.

One of the challenges shooting via your phone is that you have no idea how the surroundings on the other side are, and that you limit yourself of this small box/screen. What was also very important was having the right internet connections. One some cases the connection was crisp clear and on others it was super low, we would have to hang up and call back , it was blurry or very pixeled. Also giving instructions for poses etc, was a training. Many of these artist I have worked with before and it could go  flawless and they also know how I work , so it was easier to give instructions. But shooting with people you have never met before in real life and they don’t know how you work as well was very interesting, and with some it was like we would know each other forever. 

For me as a freelance photographer I feel that hard times are coming upon, so I will try to stay as creative as possible, and would enjoy to keep on working in this project and keep on experimenting.

Quarantine Habitat with Noga Erez in Tel Aviv via Facetime, Virtual Photosession with musicians around the world.
Quarantine Habitat with Yael Shoshanna Cohen from Lola Marsh in Tel Aviv via Facetime, Virtual Photosession with musicians around the world.