Keeping us informed and at times entertained, news channels are bustling to bring us the experts on everything they can about this poandemid as it moves along. We’re learning what is gradually becoming known of this new virus and made aware of how much no one knows. Experts on everything from virology, epidemiology, public health, critical care, behavioural psychology, political factors and social unrest, social groups, cultural influences, and of course, the financial costs of all of this, and the consequences and implications going forward as we emerge into the sunlight again. As we will.
People in most countries are at least 4 weeks into staying at home voluntarily for the common good or actually under strict government orders, lockdown or whatever other terms apply to this. Most who don’t have to leave the house to do essential work are only leaving going out for severely restricted purposes, only occasionally, and when we do we follow specific protocols, including wearing a mask or facial covering, maybe gloves, but at least maintaining 2-3m+ distance from the nearest person, using sanitising wipes or taking a small bottle of sanitiser in our pockets. Among those workers able to continue working at home, are many TV presenters and commentators we normally see in the studio.
This is a small sampling of what I’m finding really interesting. There’s an incredible variety of backgrounds to people now presenting and commenting from home. I’ve noticed some glorious coloured walls – saw a beautiful orange-red one last week with white bookshleves against it, and in another home a beautiful soft sightly greeny grey … behind someone else was an intriguing composition of corners and 4 doors in just a small part of a room, so interesting was it that I have no memory of what that person was talking about. I’ve noticed interesting textured walls, some nice arrangments of art or family photos, elegant decorative ornaments, collections of knick-knacks, and bookshelves packed with books in conditions ranging from orderly and neat to chaotic and crowded. And sometimes it’s clear some little people also inhabit the room at other times.
Sometimes the effect is absolutely not what glimpses I’d have expected to see of a familiar face’s personal space. Presumably if CNN or BBC ask you to be available to comment on one of their shows, they give some mimimal guidelines as to how to position your computer? How can you deal with home lighting which can be difficult? What should you wear if you this is new to you? Is there a policy on ‘props’ such as plants, and what to do with a position that is otherwise good but for a heap of unopened mail and general clutter in the background? (Does that just get swept off down onto the floor out of sight?)
As I sit and watch the evening news from now on, I’ll continue taking photos. I realise I’ve missed some good ones, but now I’ve focused on it, I feel there’s some art of some kind in this, and need to build up a reference file of aides memoires. … and wash your hands.