During a time when everyone is kept apart, photography can bring people together. Green Point-based photographer Daniela Zondagh started a project called ‘Lockdown 2020 Drive-by Portraits’ and donates part of her income from the project to feeding scheme Phillisa Abafazi Bethu.
“I’ve been working on a ‘Lockdown2020 Driveby Portrait’ project in Cape Town area – A nice gritty (grand or grotty depending on the state of your sidewalk ) souvenir of these surreal times,” Zondagh says on her Facebook page. “The new normal – physical distance photography. A donation is made to Phillisa Abafazi Bethu, feeding woman & children in Lavender Hill for each portrait I take.”
The drive-by photoshoot asks families or co-habitants to venture no further than their sidewalk, while Zondagh drives by on her Vespa scooter and takes pictures from the street. Customers can even just look out the window, come out onto the balcony or look over their gates, and Zondagh never leaves her scooter.
“It all started when a friend of mine wanted a family portrait, and we were faced with the challenges of the lockdown and its limitations. I decided to head over anyway, and see how it turned out. She loved it, and so the word spread,” Zondagh told Cape Town Etc.
In these difficult times, supporting Zondagh would be two-fold: Supporting an industry affected heavily by the pandemic as well as feeding a community in desperate need of food.
Take a look at these unique “drive-by portraits”:
Take a look at her Instagram for more and direct message her for more information.
Picture: Daniela Zondagh