Kate Middleton and the National Portrait Gallery Are Collecting UK Citizens’ Photographs of Life Under Lockdown—See Their Images Here

by admin

May 11, 2020

artnet

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of
Cambridge, has teamed up with the National Portrait Gallery to
spearhead a community photography project that will share stories
about how UK citizens are coping with the coronavirus
crisis.

The project, called “Hold
Still,” invites people around the UK to submit portraits of their
lives under lockdown. The gallery’s website will host an online
exhibition displaying 100 photos, judged by the “emotion and
experience” they convey rather than technical quality, and
submissions taken on an iPhone are as welcome as those from
professional photographers. A further selection of images will go on show
across the UK later in the year.

“We have all seen some
incredible images out there, and heard some amazing stories,”
Middleton says in a statement. “Some desperately sad stories, but
also some really uplifting ones as well, and I really hope that
through a project like this we might be able to showcase some of
these stories and to document and share a moment in time that we
are all experiencing.”

"background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:500px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">

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Launched by The Duchess of Cambridge in
collaboration with the #NationalPortraitGallery, #HoldStill2020 is
an ambitious community project to create a unique photographic
portrait which captures the spirit, mood, hopes, fears and feelings
of the nation as we continue to deal with the Coronavirus
outbreak.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Completely free and open to all ages and abilities,
Hold Still will capture a snapshot of the UK at this time, creating
a collective portrait of lockdown which will reflect resilience and
bravery, humour and sadness, creativity and kindness, and human
tragedy and hope.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ One hundred shortlisted portraits will
feature in a gallery without walls – a one of a kind digital
exhibition open to all this August.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ The images can be captured
on phones or cameras and each image will be assessed on the emotion
and experience it conveys rather than its photographic quality or
technical expertise.⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Submit your images through the link in
bio and share your portraits on Instagram by using #HoldStill2020
to be in with a chance of featuring on our account. ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ ⁠⠀
#StayAtHome #NationalPortraitGallery #Portraiture ⁠⠀

A post shared by National Portrait Gallery
(@nationalportraitgallery) on May 7, 2020 at 4:17am PDT

The public is invited to submit
photographs responding to one of three themes: “Helpers and
Heroes,” “Your New Normal,” and “Acts of Kindness.” The project
launched on May 7 and will be open for submissions until June
18.

The Duchess, who studied art
history at university, is a patron of the National Portrait
Gallery. She has also been honored by the
Royal Photographic Society for her own family portraits.

“Hold Still” hopes to capture
“the spirit, mood, hopes, fears, and feelings of the nation” as it
continues to grapple with the public health
situation.

See some of the early
submissions that have been shared on social media
below.

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Children of critical workers made this at
Sheringham Primary School yesterday for our frontline workers.
#sheringham #sheringhamprimary #northnorfolk #norfolk #nhs
#thankyounhs #nhsheroes #rainbow #nhsrainbow #dronestagram #drone
#aerialphotography #heliguy #aerovisuals #covidart #coronavirus
#covidopenbrief #uncovid19brief #flattenthecurve #safehands
#alonetogether #viralkindness #stopthespread #picturinglockdown
#holdstill2020

A post shared by Chris Taylor (@christaylorfoto) on Apr 10, 2020
at 1:52am PDT

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‘Doorstep Portraits’ for our NHS ⠀⠀ I
thought just a few people would get in touch after I launched this
initiative… but wow! What an incredible response from local
families and people making a difference during this pandemic. From
Paul who has made over 850 meals for those in need from his
kitchen, to Lauren who brought her newborn baby home three weeks
ago from hospital and can’t thank the midwives enough. Thank you
for sharing your stories
Alongside personal memories captured, once we start to see light at
the end of this tunnel, I hope to release some of the images,
alongside each unique story and highlight the ways people have
adapted to our new normal. ⠀⠀ HUGE thank you to everyone so far who
has been involved. Your extremely generous donations have gone
straight to @nhscharitiestogether, representing, championing and
supporting NHS staff and volunteers caring for COVID-19 patients.
⠀⠀ Love this shot of @joannamackie and her GORGEOUS family
⠀⠀
#nhsdoorstepportraits #makingmemories #doorstepportraits
#familyportraits #bettertogether #nhscharitiestogether #thankyou
#holdstill2020 #stayhome

A post shared by Holly Clark Photography
(@hollyclarkphotography) on Apr 29, 2020 at 1:22pm PDT

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Lockdown portraits: Micheline #portraits
#lockdown #stayathome #roses #gardenlife

A post shared by Zoe Norfolk (@muswellhill.london) on May 7,
2020 at 12:22am PDT

"background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:500px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">

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That time when you stick you daughter out in the
rain to capture a lockdown portrait. But with good reason, I wanted
to remember this time , stuck indoors whilst it’s raining, staring
into my cold cup of tea longing for some normality but wondering if
I will know how to have a conversation with someone face to face? .
I know we’re a long way away from “normal” but I can’t help but
start thinking about what I am going to do when they restrictions
are lifted… for sure I’m going to drive over and hug my lovely
mummy first , followed by some alone time! . . What about you what
are you going to do first? . . . #lockdown2020 #behindtheglass
#remeberinglifebeforequarantine #missingfamily
#outofworkphotographer #phlock #storiesoftheeveryday
#fortheloveofthephotograph #strikeapose #coldtea #motherhood
#motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodthroughinstagram #motherhoodrising
#mumtogcommunity #mumbehindthecamera #photonativehometogether
#smallbusiness #southamptonsmallbusiness #shopsmall #camera_mama
#sotonbloggers #dearphotographer #capturethemoment
#theeverydayportrait #throughthewindow #lockdownportraits
#ukmumtogs #holdstill2020

A post shared by Thursday’s Child Photography
(@thursdayschildphotography) on Apr 30, 2020 at 11:09am PDT

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Sending a virtual hug to everyone out there
. . . .
@living.la.vida.coco @kensingtonroyal #holdstill2020
#doglife
#quarantine #quarantinelife #missmyfamily #missmyfriends #dog
#cavapoo #dogsitting

A post shared by Crawford Family
(@marie_n_miss_p) on May 7, 2020 at 12:10am PDT

"background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:500px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">

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“Our streets are not empty; they are filled with
the love and the care that we have for each other.” The Queen …
Couldn’t not give this picture a little square of its own!
When I
can I’ll have this printed and framed for Louis… he might not
remember much about this time, but I want him to remember how it
felt. This was the day he made his 90yr old Grannan’s week with
small acts of kindness – gifting a rainbow window poster of hope,
dancing cartwheels to lift spirits and making her daisy jewellery
picked from her garden. Forget phonics for now – perhaps these are
the messages we can help teach a future generation… be kind,
protect others. ? . . Thank
you to my lovely friend Lisa @andthensheclicked who offered to put
a lil bit of her fairy dust on the original for me xx . . . . . .
#holdstill2020 @kensingtonroyal @nationalportraitgallery #covid19
#stayhome #stayhomestaysafe #veday #veday75 #muminlockdown
#lockdowndiaries #isolationlife #lockdownmood #lockdowndays
#lifeinlockdown #ukblogger #surreyblogger #ohheymama
#littlestoriesofmylife #littlesnippetsofus #ofsimplethings
#surreymum #tinytinymoments #inspiremyinstagram #mumstyle
#ukmumblog #thismomentintime #standstill #realparenting #2020
#photosofourtime

A post shared by S A R A H P A R K E R (@sarahparkerpics) on May
8, 2020 at 11:53pm PDT

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Emma, Richard, Theo and George in lockdown in
Lewes. From my ongoing photo series #furloughedfriendship in which
I photograph the friends local to me in Lewes through their shut
window. @richard_pelling @em_pelling #reportage #socialdistancing
#documentaryphotography #windowportrait #coronavirusphotoproject
#personalproject #makeportraits #portraitseries #nikon
#coronaportraits #community #friendsinlockdown #lewes
#coronalockdown #throughthewindow #supportartists
#somewheremagazine #behindglass #friendship #behindglass
#massisolationformat #wpp20 #smplecommunity #smpleworld
#holdstill2020

A post shared by Sarah Weal Photographer (@sarahweal) on May 11,
2020 at 1:33am PDT

"background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:500px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">

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Whilst the summer season of weddings has slowly
disappeared into next year, hugs and kisses have turned into online
video chats, Spring sprung and we adjusted to a new normal, I
started to think what I could do to make a difference, even if
small, during this time. ⠀⠀ Now, two weekends into my
#NHSdoorstepportraits project and I have certainly witnessed what
Her Majesty The Queen stated in her address to the nation – “Our
streets are not empty, they are filled with love”. ⠀⠀ This project
was not about capturing the sheer tragedy of Covid-19 but the
rainbows that still hang over head. ⠀⠀ With the generous donations
from everyone involved, we have also managed to smash our target by
over double for @nhscharitiestogether. AMAZING I’ll be
releasing some of the images soon though in the meantime… THANK YOU
from the bottom, middle and top of my heart!! ⠀⠀ I love this shot
from yesterday of little Purdy looking out from her living room at
a very different world going by… • • • • •
#Doorstepportraits #togetherness #ourstreetsarefilledwithlove
#nhscharitiestogether #rainbowsoverhead #undertherainbow
#holdstill2020 #kensingtonroyal #NPG #familyportraits #thankyouNHS
#ourNHS #nhsheroes

A post shared by Holly Clark Photography
(@hollyclarkphotography) on May 11, 2020 at 12:40am PDT