TITLE: Day in The Park

Film Stock: Ilford Delta 400
Camera: Mamiya RB67

"Day in The Park" is a photographic mini-series created as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic which, primarily through the use of surreal humor, aims to embody the absurdist nature of its exponential rise.
The concept operates through multiple levels. Directly, the incongruity in the visual elements depicts the absurdity in both the circumstances and the forms of protection we employ, and separate from the context, creates a bizarre and humorous atmosphere. Indirectly, it's a critique against those who avoid and ignore self-isolation orders for mundane, unnecessary acts, such as playing in the park; which is embodied by the "silliness" of the protagonist.
The mood and atmosphere of the series has two primary goals: capturing a timeless quality typically associated with vintage images, and to create a desolate, post-apocalyptic setting that is in direct juxtaposition with the actions of the protagonist. Through this, it emphasizes the similarities between the corona virus outbreak and similar disasters throughout history (it's very Chernobyl-esque, for example), ultimately aiming to highlight the absurdity and "oddness" of surviving through harsh, unprecedented times. Through this, it establishes an effect of comforting relief, a feeling of turning the "unusual" into "usual" which is essential during these times of uncertainty.

AUTHOR: Yanal Marji (Jordan)