An award-winning portrait series documenting an unusual time
Limbo: Alone Together is an intimate portrait series that explores life at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic — from a distance. I captured photos of people in their homes under lockdown orders, some with their families and others completely isolated. I intentionally photographed my subjects from a safe space, both to protect them and to document the reality of separation. The project was nominated for a 2021 Hearst Journalism Award and won a national 2021 Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence award for COVID-19 still photography coverage.
“In Jessica's portrait series people's homes begin to feel like lifeboats, with survivors floating in a sea of uncertainty. You can sense the intelligence behind Jessica's photography. Her images communicate visually, making clever use of framing, facial expressions, interpersonal interaction, foreground elements, glass reflections, metaphor and symbolism. The images and their clever captions are factual documents, but they are also empathetic in communicating the human experience of her community during the shutdown. The photos appear simple and direct at first glance but are complex and thoughtful for viewers who take some time to appreciate them. The series disarms viewers with its thread of playfulness while touching on serious themes of separation, anxiety, and loss. There is humor mixed with melancholy.”
— Thorne Anderson, UNT Endowed Chair for Narrative & Multimedia Journalism
Media Coverage
UNT student journalists recognized with national awards for work in broadcast and documenting the pandemic
University of North Texas News Release
UNT student journalists win national awards for broadcast and documentary work
Denton Record-Chronicle
SPJ announces 2020 national Mark of Excellence Award winners
SPJ News