I am honoured to have made the shortlist in the Portrait of Humanity Awards again. These awards celebrate images of hope, resilience, community, and unity. Here is my image of Chokat who lies in Bed 19 (likely COVID). She told me of the incredible pain she was in but hoped desperately that this image may show people how serious Covid is.
In the early days of the UK’s COVID-19 outbreak, I was commissioned to document how the Royal Free Hospital and its staff were dealing with the effects of the pandemic. To be able to tell this incredible story of resilience, I was given access to all hospital departments – including ICU, the maternity ward, and the mortuary. This was a truly eye-opening and inspiring experience. It was such an honour to work alongside the NHS heroes who put their own lives at such risk to save others. You can find out more about the Portrait of Humanity Awards here.
